Introduction
Hizbullah's Head of Politburo Mohammad Raad vowed that the Islamic
Resistance (IR) is fighting the "Israeli" allied militia for it protects
"Israel's" occupation forces and covers their continued aggressions on
Lebanon. However, a Norwegian Unifil soldier was injured as an "Israeli"
targeted a Norwegian patrol near Blat village. Meanwhile, the April Understanding
Monitoring Group condemned the "Israeli" occupation forces for shelling
Marj Al-Zohour village wounding one civilian and damaging seven houses.
Raad: Resistance operations target collaborators for their being
a base for the occupation and its project
(1)
"Resistance operations target the collaborators because they represent
a base for the occupation and its project, besides contributing in covering
the crime of occupation", head of Hizbullah's political council MP Mohammed
Raad said.
"In a commentary he wrote for al-Liwaa newspaper today, Raad noted "These collaborators advance as an excuse that they took up arms to protect the security of the Jezzine residents; this is a militia pretext which is brought down as the state and its project are established in Lebanon."
"The most dangerous role played by the collaborators in Jezzine is enticing the state into negotiation with the Israelis under the pretext of easing the pressure off the people there", Raad wrote.
"The Resistance is not a militia; no one should intimidate the people of Jezzine with the Resistance, for it belongs to the people of Jezzine and the occupied zone", Raad added.
"The Resistance is a project which aims to liberate the land from the occupation. Its heroes are men of dialogue, reason and logic", he added.
"Israeli" Aggressions
(2)
The IR issued a communiqué in which it stated the following
"Israeli" aggressions:
4:05, two helicopters hovered, at middle altitude, over Qantara, Slouqi
Valley and Salaah areas.
7:15, Rihan emplacement targeted Mount-Sojod with two 120mm shells.
8:55, an M.K. surveillance aircraft soared in the airspace of Western
Beqaa.
10:10, an M.K. surveillance plane flew over the areas of Iqleem Al-Toffah.
10:40, the espionage planes circled, at middle height, in the airspace
of Nabatieh region.
11:10, an M.K. surveillance aircraft hovered, at middle altitude, over
Qabrikha, Majdal Zoun and the nearby areas.
11:55, the warplanes flew in the airspace of South Lebanon.
12:10, the "Israeli" fighters flew, at middle altitude, in the airspace
of Beirut.
12:20, the jet airplanes flew, at middle height, over Central Sector,
Nabatieh, Iqleem Al-Toffah and East Saida launching mock air raids.
12:40, the "Israeli" jets circled in the airspace of Beirut.
12:45, the warplanes staged two mock air raids over Naameh town.
13:00, the warplanes were still flying in the airspace of South Lebanon.
13:20, the reconnaissance planes circled over Iqleem Al-Toffah region.
15:05, the warplanes flew low in the airspace of Iqleem Al-Toffah and
East Saida but they were drawing fire from the anti-aircraft batteries
of Lebanese Army.
15:15, the "Israeli" jets circled low over the areas of Western sector
releasing anti-missile flares. Meanwhile the warplanes threw strange bodies
over the area between Mazraat Meshref and Ras-Salib.
15:45, Meis El-Jabal emplacement pounded the outskirts of Haddatha
town with twelve 155mm missiles and the area between Haris and Haddatha
with three others.
16:10, the warplanes flew in the airspace of Western Beqaa region.
17:10, the "Israeli" fighters circled in the airspace of Nabatieh,
Iqleem Al-Toffah and East Saida areas, but they were driven off by the
anti-aircraft guns of the Lebanese Army.
20:30, two choppers hovered over the seashore of Adloun and Khairzaran
then turned to Iqleem Al-Toffah. They were confronted by the anti-aircraft
guns of the Lebanese Army.
20:35, one helicopter flew very low over Qaaqaiyat Al-Jisr, Jibsheit,
Doueir, Sharqieh, Deir Zahrani and Iqleem Al-Toffah areas. It drew fire
from the anti-aircraft guns of the Lebanese Army. Meanwhile, three 120mm
shells emanating from Rihan emplacement fell on Aqmata.
20:40, the helicopters hovered, at middle height, over the sea opposite
Tyre and Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr and over Al-Rafih and Sojod heights. At the
same time, Rihan emplacement pounded Mount-Sojod with eight 120mm shells.
21:00, Tasseh Well came under four 120mm shells originating from Rihan
emplacement. In the meantime, the helicopters hovered over Joune, Boslaya,
Sidon, Kfar Falous and Iqleem Al-Toffah areas, but they were driven off
by the anti-aircraft guns of the Lebanese Army.
21:10, the helicopter gunships showered the perimeters of Mlikh village
and Mount-Safi with heavy machine gun fire and flew very low over Iqleem
Al-Toffah region.
21:20, three 105mm rounds emanating from Kassaret Al-Oroush position
fell on Mount-Safi.
21:25, the choppers hovered low over Blat and Bassil areas.
22:00, one lightened chopper circled over Abbad and the nearby areas.
22:45, the helicopters hovered over Blat and Ramiyeh posts.
23:25, two helicopters soared over the towns of Shaqra and Baraasheit.
23:30, Rihan emplacement fired five 120mm shells at Mount-Sojod.
Operations:
The IR assumed in its statement the responsibility of the following
attacks on the "Israeli" troops:
1:45, the IR observed enemy movements near and inside Hmayed post.
Then, the squad of martyr Said Mustafa El-Ali targeted them with the adequate
arms scoring direct hits.
15:30, the IR spotted fortification works at the old Beit Yahoun outpost.
Shortly afterwards, the group of martyr Ziad Mohammad Zahwi targeted them
with the suitable weapons chalking up direct and certain goals.
23:10, the IR observed motorized movements inside Sojod outpost. Immediately
afterwards, the group of both martyrs Ramzi Daifallah Abou Salim and Moussa
Ali Deeb attacked them with the suitable arms. The militants scored direct
and certain hits as they reported.
24:00, the IR squad of two martyrs Wa'il Khalil Darwish and Hachem
Abdel-Menhem Mohanna ambushed a collaborator motorized patrol as its was
passing on the road leading to Bir Kallab outpost. The militants attacked
it with the machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades striking directly
one military vehicle.
Bir Kallab outpost tried to back up the attacked patrol, but the group
of two martyrs Ahmad Yassine and Hussein Ahmad Saad attacked it with the
appropriate arms barring it from achieving its goals
(3)
In the occupied Al-Quds, "Israel's" TV-Channel 2 admitted that one "Israeli" soldier, Sergeant Ziv Derby, was wounded in a land mine explosion in the Eastern Sector of South Lebanon.
"Derby was still in serious condition last night at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, after losing a foot in a mine blast during a routine patrol with his unit in the eastern sector of the south Lebanon security zone morning."
"Derby was evacuated after the pre-dawn explosion to Rambam, where his foot was amputated. He told Israel Television Channel 2 last night that he "heard an explosion, saw a flash of light, and then felt pain" in his arms and leg, adding he remained awake throughout the evacuation" (4)
Norwegian Unifil soldier wounded by fire from rogue "Israeli"
tank
(5)
"A Norwegian Unifil soldier was wounded when an "Israeli" tank opened
fire at a peace-keeping patrol near the village of Blat in the eastern
sector of the occupation zone."
"The seven soldiers, accompanied by a dog, were on routine patrol at 3.30am when an "Israeli" Merkava tank positioned beside a compound at Aishieh fired three rounds at them."
"A 22-year-old soldier was hit in the hand by shrapnel, severing a finger. He was taken to hospital at Unifils headquarters in Naqoura where he is recovering."
Unifil has strongly protested against the incident with the "Israeli" army, a statement from the peace-keepers said.
"In Jerusalem, the "Israelis" issued their own statement concerning the incident. An "Israeli" army tank which last night was on an operation in the eastern sector of the south Lebanon security zone identified a number of suspicious figures moving in its sector and opened fire on them. From the fire a UN soldier was very lightly wounded, the statement said.
"Timur Goksel, Unifils political advisor, was unimpressed."
Now we know that losing a finger and having a hand smashed is classified as very lightly wounded in the "Israeli" armys eyes, he said.
"Goksel added that the tank had not been on an operation, as claimed by the "Israelis", but has been standing in the same post for 13 years.
"Furthermore, the patrol was 3km away to the south in the Unifil area and not in the "Israeli" sector", he added.
"Incident was not the first time that Norwegian troops had been fired upon by an Israeli tank in Aishieh. On December 27, 1993, a tank fired three flechette rounds, each containing hundreds of steel darts, at a Norwegian patrol in the same area, killing one soldier and seriously wounding another.
Two years later, on December 10, 1995, an "Israeli" tank fired three flechette rounds from the same position at a Norwegian patrol, wounding three soldiers."
"The "Israeli" statement said that an investigation had been launched into the shelling."
"Israels' chief of staff, Lt Shaul Mofaz, said the incident was a bad event, according to "Israeli" radio. He added that the army would take steps to improve its operations."
At least they admitted responsibility, even though they did try to play down what happened, Goksel said.
"He added that the Merkava tank would have been equipped with sophisticated night vision equipment which would have been able to clearly pick out the insignia on the Norwegian uniforms at 3km.
The Norwegian government announced earlier this year that it was withdrawing its 625 soldiers from south Lebanon, citing recruitment problems. It is still not known who will replace the Norwegians, although Spain is thought to be a likely candidate."
AUMG condemns "Israel"
(6)
"Elsewhere, the April Understanding Monitoring Group acknowledged that
the "Israeli" occupation forces violated the 1996 understanding when they
and those cooperating with them fired artillery shells on the Marj al-Zohoor
village wounding one civilian and damaging seven houses. "Israeli" 105mm
rounds also fell on the town of Libbaya and damaged three houses."
"The monitors said "Israeli" occupation forces directed mortar rounds and tank fire at three different villages on September 9."
"The Monitoring Group expressed its concern over this serious incident, which constitutes a violation of the understanding," the group said in a statement. It said "Israel" promised to take measures to prevent a repetition. "
Boulevard named after martyr Sayed Hadi Nasrallah
(7)
"Under the auspices of PM Rafiq Hariri, a ceremony was held to inaugurate
a Boulevard which held the name of the martyr son of Hizbullah Secretary
General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah."
"The road between the Shatila and Tayyouneh roundabouts linking the capital with its southern suburbs was officially named the Hadi Nasrallah Boulevard."
"The ceremony was attended by several government officials, including Information Minister Bassem Sabaa, who represented PM Hariri, and Administrative Reform Minister Beshara Merhej. Hizbullah Secretary General's Political Assistant Hajj Hussein al-Khalil represented him at the ceremony."
"The announcement by the governor of Beirut, Nicholas Saba, of the decision to call the road after Martyr Hadi Nasrallah, came during a commemoration marking the first anniversary of Hadi's martyrdom."
"Hadi, 18, was martyred during a heroic confrontation with "Israeli" occupation troops last September. His body was returned during a swap between Lebanon and "Israel" last June."
"This street carries the name of Hadi Hassan Nasrallah but also the names of all other martyrs who died fighting for the dignity of Lebanon," Saba said.
Lebanon: Behind the lines, in occupied Lebanon
(8)
JIBSHEET, Southern Lebanon, (Sep. 14) IPS - In 1993, "a few weeks after
her house was demolished in an "Israeli" air raid, a team of young men
from the Hizbullah came to clear away the rubble and rebuild Zahra Fahas'
home."
"By day, the men poured concrete and pounded wooden pillars into the ground until the new house was finished. By night, they took machine guns into the surrounding hills to strike at the "Israeli" army installations that occupy south Lebanon."
"Since then, Fahas has watched Hizbullah men descend on dozens of her neighbors' demolished homes in this small village just north of the "Israeli"-occupied zone. Here the battle lines are starkly drawn."
"Since 1985, "Israel" has occupied a sliver of south Lebanon for what it says is protection against guerrilla raids on its northern border communities. Hizbullah, young Lebanese Shi'ites, has been battling since then to free Lebanon of "Israeli" occupation."
"It has also successfully transformed itself from a shadowy band of Islamic extremists to a populist movement supported by regular Lebanese. Its popularity is now so overwhelming, its goal of ousting "Israel" so universally accepted, that guerrillas and ordinary villagers fuse into one, with fighters, supporters and even village women doing their part to aid the resistance."
"Meanwhile, Hizbullah's increasingly sophisticated guerrilla tactics has sapped the morale of "Israel's" army and prompted its leaders to search for a way out of a war that, like the United States' war in Vietnam, seems increasingly impossible to win."
"We are Hizbullah," said Fahas, a 35-year-old mother of five, gathered with her extended family in front of their home. "We will defend our land and our families. We will resist. We will fight until the "Israelis" leave."
"In April, "Israel's" Cabinet accepted a 20-year-old United Nations resolution calling on it to withdraw from Lebanon, on the extra condition that the Lebanese Army controls the south, not Hizbullah."
"Beirut officials won't accept the condition. "It's not the task of the Lebanese Army to protect "Israel"," said Abdel Satar al-Laz, spokesman for Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
"The stalemate has kept a costly war of attrition going, despite a cease fire arrangement and international monitors in place since 1996, when "Israeli" attacks killed about 200 Lebanese civilians, mostly refugees holed up in a United Nations compound."
'The monitors oversee the arrangement, which bar both sides from launching attacks on the other side's towns and villages."
"But there is no similar ban on attacks against military targets."
"It's an international experiment in conflict management, but not in conflict resolution," said a Lebanese foreign ministry spokesman and member of the monitoring group, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity. "We simply find ways to spare civilians" he said. "This is our only job."
"Since then, the number of civilian casualties has decreased while better trained Hizbullah guerrillas are making the war more costly to "Israel". Hizbullah's improved methods have made it possible for a core of only about 1,000 fighters with limited weaponry to exact a relatively heavy toll against a larger and much better equipped "Israeli" army and its proxy militia."
"So far this year, 11 "Israelis" and 19 militia members have been killed, according to an "Israeli" army spokeswoman. This successful skirmishing has boosted Hizbullah's morale and snuffed out an unfavorable image of the fighters as undisciplined zealots."
"Members have focused their religious fervor on achieving the Islamic ideal of social justice", say observers.
"They don't see their role as representing the Shi'ites only," said Radwan al-Sayyad, a professor of Islamic studies at Lebanese University. "They want a just political system, a just social system, for all Lebanese. That for them, is the ideal Islamic state, the zenith of all good things."
"Hizbullah leaders see themselves as freedom fighters and refuse to accept the"terrorist" tag. "We are a liberation movement fighting for the freedom of our country," said Ibrahim Musawi, spokesman for Hizbullah. "We don't care what labels they want to put on us," he said. "We know what our role is and we know that what we are doing is right."
Three miles from Jibsheit, in the town of Nabatieh, Hizbullah's presence is strongly felt. Here, black and yellow resistance flags flutter between murals of Imam Musa Sadr, the Iranian-born cleric who disappeared in Libya in 1978."
"Teenagers in black pants and t-shirts usher crowds to a Hizbullah rally commemorating the kidnapping of Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid, captured by Israel in the 1980s, as members of a marching band and omen draped in black look on."
"At a restaurant nearby, Ahmed, a 37-year-old bearded man works part-time as a baker. Everyone in these villages does his part to liberate Lebanon, he says. Some provide food and shelter to fighters in need. Others collect funds. A few, like himself, are on what he calls "stand-by" volunteers for guerrilla operations."
"At night, I help out Hizbullah," said Ahmed, taking a break from the bakery ovens. "I do jobs to get rid of the occupation. Without support from me and the other villagers, there would be no resistance."