Recently in Hizballah Category

Lebanon doesn't seem to particularly mind this challenge to and erosion of its sovereignty. Hizballebanon Update. "Hezbollah says new government must keep mum about its weapons," from Agence France-Presse, November 11:

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed on Wednesday to cooperate with Lebanon's new unity government but warned that it should avoid the "big issues," in allusion to his group's weapons.

"Success for this government, its prime minister and ministers will mean success for Lebanon and Hezbollah," Nasrallah said in a televised address to mark Hezbollah's martyrs' day.

"But I call for patience in dealing with the big issues," he added, alluding to demands by the UN Security Council and his local rivals for the disarmament of his Shiite militant group.

"If we start with this now, we are headed straight for problems."

Nasrallah, whose party fought a devastating war with Israel in the summer of 2006, also said he hoped for a "government of national cooperation and accord."

"We do not want a government divided by barricades," he said.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of murdered ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, announced the formation of his new government on Monday, more than four months after his US- and Saudi-backed alliance defeated a Hezbollah-led bloc backed by Syria and Iran in a general election.

The government met for the first time on Tuesday at the president palace, making it clear that it would steer clear of the thorny issue of Hezbollah's weapons.

Hariri's government includes 15 ministers from Hariri's bloc and 10 from the opposition. The remaining five were appointed by President Michel Sleiman.

The major point of contention between the two major camps has been Hezbollah's weapons, which were starkly brought to the forefront in May 2008 when the militant group staged a spectacular takeover of mainly Sunni Muslim west Beirut.

The crisis, sparked by a government crackdown against Hezbollah, left more than 100 people dead and brought the country to the brink of renewed civil war.

The distribution of portfolios in the new government means that neither side will have veto power and that Sleiman will play the role of arbiter.

Nasrallah, whose party has two ministers in the new government, played down the prospects of a new conflict with Israel, dismissing recent Israeli warnings as "psychological warfare."

But he added that Hezbollah remained ready for any eventuality.

"Send all the troops you want," he said. "We will kill all your officers and soldiers."

Hezbollah is the only Lebanese party that refused to surrender its weapons after the country's 1975-1990 civil war. It argues they are necessary to defend Lebanon against Israeli aggression.

Then there's U.N. Resolution 1701, which Hizballah was also allowed to opt out of for all practical purposes (like re-arming).

Nasrallah called on the rival Lebanese blocs' foreign sponsors Iran and Saudi Arabia to work hand in hand on regional issues.

"We call for Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, initiated by either country or any other party," he said.

"These two large, important countries should cooperate," Nasrallah said. "The region is in need of a loyal firefighter."

A what, now?

Just another round of the age-old jihad. "Report: Hezbollah rearming for imminent conflict with Israel," from Haaretz, November 8 (thanks to Alexandre):

Militant group Hezbollah is rapidly rearming and reinforcing positions in southern Lebanon in preparation for a new conflict with Israel, British newspaper the Observer reported on Sunday.

"Sure, we are rearming, we have even said that we have far more rockets and missiles than we did in 2006," a Hezbollah commander told the Observer speaking on condition of anonymity.

The 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel began after Hezbollah militants launched a cross-border attack and kidnapped two Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

"We had to blow up or leave some of our bunkers and fighting positions, but we still have plenty of capabilities in the south," the commander told the Observer. "We expect the Israelis to come soon, if not this winter, then they will wait until spring, when the ground isn't too soft for their tanks."

Israeli commandos on Wednesday seized a ship that defense officials said was carrying hundreds of tons of weapons from Iran bound for Hezbollah guerrillas - the largest arms shipment Israel has ever commandeered....

Antigua spoiling for war with the Zionist entity! "Israeli Navy Captures Arms Shipment," by Myra Noveck for the New York Times, November 4 (thanks to Bill):

JERUSALEM -- Israeli navy commandos seized a cargo ship early Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea that Israeli officials said was carrying rockets and ammunition bound for militants from Hezbollah.

Israel intercepted the ship, which was sailing under an Antiguan flag, near Cyprus, 100 miles west of the Israeli coast, and took it the Ashdod harbor in southern Israel.

"As of now, what we know is that this was a smuggling attempt to arm Hezbollah with terrorist means against civilians," Shaul Mofaz, a member of the Knesset and a former defense minister, told Israel Radio. "The intent was to send arms, mainly missiles and launchers, meant to strike civilian targets."...

Israel Radio reported that the navy had not used force in boarding the ship, the Franco St. Johns. Defense Minister Ehud Barak hailed the capture as "an additional success in the unending struggle against the attempts at arms smuggling and armament whose goal is to strengthen terror elements threatening the security of Israel."...

It's unclear at this point whether they are Islamic jihadists or just useful idiots. "'Hezbollah' dad tried to help thugs," by Kati Cornell and Joe Mollica for the New York Post, October 28 (thanks to all who sent this in):

Two men -- including a married father of two from Queens -- were hit with federal terrorism charges yesterday for trying to provide weapons, ammunition and vehicles to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, prosecutors said.

Patrick Nayyar, 45, of Flushing -- who is being held without bail -- and his alleged accomplice, Conrad Mulholland, 43, who is still at large, were indicted in Manhattan for conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.

The men are accused of supplying a Colt handgun, hollow-point bullets and a pickup truck to an FBI informant who said he worked for the terrorist organization, according to court papers.

In a series of meetings from July through September, the suspects allegedly made a deal to sell the informant additional guns, vehicles, bulletproof vests and night-vision goggles.

According to court papers, the weapons changed hands in Nayyar's mother's apartment, which is in his building.

On Aug. 3, Nayyar -- an illegal immigrant from India who was denied citizenship in 2006 for undisclosed reasons -- directed his mother to bring a gun from her bedroom to show the informant, who was wearing a wire.

The woman left the room and returned with a black handgun, according to court papers.

Nayyar -- a contractor who also worked as the super at his building -- handed the weapon to the informant, along with a box of ammunition that was marked "For Law Enforcement Use Only, Not for Retail Sale," the feds charge.

Two days later, the informant returned to the apartment and paid him $1,000.

Nayyar, who was picked up at his home on Sept. 24, was initially charged in Brooklyn federal court with a lesser count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

That charge was dismissed on Monday.

Yesterday, he was arraigned on the new charges in Manhattan federal court, pleading not guilty to five counts of providing material support to a terrorist organization, making contributions to Hezbollah and illegal possession of a weapon.

He faces 80 years in prison if convicted.

"I know he dealt with suspicious people, but he's not a terrorist," said Nayyar's mom, Sushila, 75, who was not charged in the case.

"He's a hard worker who was disturbed by the death of his father [in 2008]."...

Oh, well, that explains it.

"It was the ninth reported attack on Israel from Lebanese territory since the end of fighting between Israel and the south-Lebanon-based Hezbollah in 2006." "Israel shows restraint after latest rocket from southern Lebanon," by David Harris for Xinhua, October 29:

JERUSALEM, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israel responded with limited fire towards the source of a rocket launched from southern Lebanon on Tuesday night. It was the ninth reported attack on Israel from Lebanese territory since the end of fighting between Israel and the south-Lebanon-based Hezbollah in 2006.

Four additional Katyusha rockets were found on Wednesday close to Tuesday's launch site. The discovery was made by a joint tour of officers from the Lebanese army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, according to Lebanese and Israeli media reports.

Analysts are now wondering for how long Israel will show restraint in the face of these attacks for which no one claims responsibility.

ATTACK CONDEMNED

Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora criticized the initial strike from Lebanon and Israel's immediate response, which was reported to have damaged a couple of nearby homes.

Israel lodged a formal complaint about the fire with the UN, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying "the IDF considers the Lebanese government and military responsible for the prevention of such attacks."

While no one claimed responsibility, the incident took place as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a report which included a demand that Hezbollah be stripped of its arms in accordance with UN resolutions.

"The threats posed by the existence of militias outside the control of the state, especially Hezbollah's vast paramilitary infrastructure, cannot be overstated," Ban said in the document.

Ban also condemned Israel's overflights of Lebanese airspace. Israel says such surveillance missions will continue as long as it feels there is a threat from Lebanese territory....

Weapons for the Shi'ites who are rebelling against the Yemeni government. "Iranian ship laden with weapons seized off Yemen," by Nasser Arrabyee for Gulf News, October 27 (thanks to Sr. Soph):

Sanaa: An Iranian ship laden with various weapons believed to be for Al Houthi rebels was seized Monday off the Yemeni coasts of the Midi harbour in the far northern west of the country, security sources said Tuesday.

The 5-member crew, 4 Iranians and Indian, were taken immediately to the capital Sanaa for investigation.

The security sources believed that the ship was in its way to unload its weapon shipment, which includes anti-armour missiles, somewhere close to Haradh where it could be hidden in a farm before Al Houthi rebels collected them.

The Haradh area is only tens of kilometers from the western frontline of Al Malahaid.

Earlier on Monday, the independent paper Al Ahali said that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards train Al Houthi rebels in training camps in neighboring Eritrea. The paper also said that the Iranian revolutionary guards transport the weapons through the Eritrean harbour of Asab, from where it is transported to Yemen's Midi Harbour.

Abdullah Al Mahdoon, one rebel leader, who surrendered himself to the army earlier this month, said in previous statements, that Al Houthi rebels receive unlimited support from the Iranian revolutionary guards, and experts from the Lebanese Hezbullah....