Lebanon Fears Hostile Israeli Intentions

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

A previous article discussed a sinister US/Saudi/Israeli alliance for possible greater regional turbulence than already - Iran and Lebanon prime targets for hostile actions, including war.

Washington, Riyadh and Tel Aviv want sovereign independent Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon eliminated.

Is a greater regional war than earlier ones in the works? Is Iran threatened? Is another Israeli Lebanon war planned?

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said "Israeli targeting still continues, and it is the right of the Lebanese to resist it and foil its plans by all available means."

Lebanon has been targeted by Israeli "aggression" for decades. It has a right to protect itself, he stressed.

It "was able to face the Israeli aggression since 1978 until the 2006 war. It was able to liberate its land. Israeli threats are still ongoing. The Lebanese have the right to fight and thwart it with all available means."

Speaking on the 74th anniversary of Lebanon's independence, its Armed Forces commander General Joseph Aoun stressed government forces must be "fully prepared on the southern border to confront the Israeli enemy's threats and violations" - citing its "hostile intentions against Lebanon, its people and army."

He urged the army to cooperate with UN forces in the country to "preserve stability." 

President's Aoun's remarks followed Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil's, warning Israel against inciting conflict, expressing concern about the possibility in the wake of PM Saad Hariri's forced resignation and hostile Saudi remarks. 

UN Resolution 1701 followed Israel's 2006 aggression, calling on both sides to respect borders and buffer areas.

Lebanon's army is no match for Israel's, Hezbollah forces another story altogether, embarrassing the vaunted IDF in 2006, much stronger today to confront it if necessary.

Last Sunday, Arab League foreign ministers met in Cairo, the session called by Riyadh to enlist support for challenging Iran, Hezbollah and the Yemeni Houthis, plotting greater regional war and turbulence.

Commenting on the meeting, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah blasted its announcement about declaring the resistance movement a "terrorist organization."

It's also a legitimately elected part of Lebanon's government, representing a large Shia constituency. 

Hezbollah's weapons are only used against terrorist groups and other threats to Lebanon's security, notably against Israel if it attacks the country.

Nasrallah called Arab world turmoil "cover for the announcement of normalization of relations with Israel" - a rogue alliance for greater regional wars and chaos.

Israel said it won't tolerate the presence of Hezbollah forces near its border with Syria. 

Ultranationalist defense minister Avigdor Lieberman urged Knesset members to increase military spending by over $1 billion for 2018 through 2020, citing nonexistent Iranian threats.

Escalating tensions pervade the region. The risk of greater wars erupting is ominously real.

Lebanon has just cause for concern. So do Iran and Syria. A sinister US/Saudi/Israeli alliance wants regime change in both countries and Hezbollah eliminated. Big trouble may be brewing.

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