Hizbollah: Stronger and Bolder
Shiite terrorist organization Hizbollah is stronger than it was two years ago when it kidnapped Israeli soldiers which resulted in a war between Hizbollah and Israel - which caused Israeli PM Olmert to lose a lot of respect and authority - and the group is ‘ready to respond with force to any provocation,’ a senior commander told the British newspaper the Telegraph.
In a rare interview the political and military group’s senior commander, Sheikh Nabil Kaouk, who leads Hizbollah’s forces on Lebanon’s border with Israel, in southern Lebanon said that Hizbollah ‘was far stronger now than when it fought the Israeli army in a conflict in 2006.’ “The resistance is now stronger than before and this keeps the option of war awake. If we were weak, Israel would not hesitate to start another war,” he said. “We are stronger than before and when Hizbollah is strong, our strength stops Israel from starting a new war… We don’t seek war, but we must be ready.”
This region is of immense importance in any future war. Sheikh Kaouk is one of the most important figures within Hizbollah. He is, in other words, a person who knows what he is talking about.
Of course this does not mean that he is telling the truth; he could very well be blustering. Sadly, however, other sources agree with Kaouk; according to some, Hizbollah has ‘trebled its arsenal in the last two years – from 10,000 missiles to about 30,000. These new weapons have longer ranges and heavier warheads. They include the Zelzal missile, which could strike as far south as Tel Aviv, and the C802 anti-shipping missile, capable of sinking Israeli warships.’
The main question is what constitutes a ‘provocation.’ The answer seems to be quite simple; any direct attack against Hizbollah, but also an American or Israeli attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities. In the minds of Hizbollah, Israel and the United States are the same. When America, then, takes action against Hizbollah or one of its allies, the Shiite terrorists will take revenge against Israel. Kaouk himself was quite honest about the link between Iran and Hizbollah in the interview: “We are proud of our friendship with Iran and with Syria and every country which helps us to gain our rights,” he said.
As the sources have pointed out, Hizbollah will be able to do more damage now that it was able to do two years ago. During that war, not losing or at least not being destroyed constituted a ‘victory’ for Hizbollah. If the organization has indeed trebled its arsenal, however, it could very well be able to accomplish more and especially to kill more Israelis.
Hizbollah is a resistance organization which has a legitimate and understandable goal: Liberate the Shebaa Farms region of Lebanon which has been illegally and brutally occupied by Israel for 41 years. Israel must end its illegal occupations of the West Bank, Golan and Shebaa Farms and end its seige/blockade of Gaza.