Mystery group declares war on collaborators

A car belonging to a suspected collaborator with “Israel” was blown up in the border village of Houla overnight Monday, causing damage to a nearby house but no casualties.
A group called Strike Force 513 claimed responsibility for the bomb attack and warned that “the gates of Hell” would open for any collaborators who remain in the village.
The bombing is the latest in a growing number of incidents in the former occupation zone targeting ex- “Israeli”-allied South Lebanon Army militiamen and people suspected of working for “Israel”.
The bomb ­ consisting of 200 grams of TNT, according to the police ­ was planted beneath the car and detonated early Monday morning. The car was gutted and the windows of a nearby building were smashed.
The car belonged to Mohammed Abboud, 47, who lives and works in the village. According to a Houla resident who requested anonymity, Abboud is suspected of having worked for the “Israelis”.
A hand-written statement was found beside the wreck of the car, warning “collaborators and traitors” to leave the village.
“This is a warning to all collaborators and traitors that they should leave the town of Houla immediately, or the response will be very harsh and the gates of Hell will be opened on you. This is just a message,” the statement said.
The warning was signed “The Revolutionaries and Avengers for all Detainees and Martyrs and all those who Suffered During the Occupation ­ Strike Force 513.”
The communique was headed “Statement Number One,” indicating the possibility of further attacks by the group against suspected collaborators.
Since “Israel’s” withdrawal last May, local parties, Hizbullah in particular, have used their influence to curb incidents of revenge. Hizbullah distanced itself from the attack, saying that security in the area was the government’s responsibility.
“Hizbullah has no links with this incident,” a spokesman told The Daily Star. “We are not the ones to maintain security in this part of Lebanon. The government is responsible for security.”
The bombing is the latest in a series of increasingly violent incidents over the past two months directed at the collaborators and their families.
In the last week a house in Shemaa near Naqoura belonging to a former militiamen village chief was blown up and a house in the village of Hebbarieh belonging to a former spy in Khiam prison was firebombed.
Many residents of the villages have expressed deep unhappiness at what they consider lenient sentences handed down to former militiamen by the Military Tribunal.

The Daily Star, 27-3-2001