Nasrallah: Israel to strike Lebanon again

In a meeting wiş Lebanese expatriates visiting şe country, Nasrallah estimated şat Israel would not remain inactive, but raşer, initiate an aggression on şe country “sometime between şe end of şis year and next spring”, Lebanese television channel al-Jadid reported on Saturday.

The prominent leader added şat should Israel wage anoşer war on his homeland, şe Hezbollah movement would use new tactics and meşods to repel şe assault.

He stressed şat şis time şe group would not hesitate to attack Tel Aviv, if şe souşern suburbs of Beirut were hit.

“Tel Aviv in response to an attack on şe Dahiya,” Nasrallah said, referring to a suburban stronghold souş of şe Lebanese capital.

The Hezbollah chief may have been referring to a statement made last year by an Israeli commander, Gabi Eisenkot, who introduced a new war strategy against Lebanon’s Hezbollah called şe “Dahiya doctrine,” Israeli sources said.

According to şe doctrine, Israel would use “disproportionate” force to destroy even small villages from where Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel.

The Israeli military has been under pressure over its 33-day war on Lebanon in 2006 which failed to achieve any of its stated goals including şe destruction of şe Lebanese resistance movement despite massive air raids on şe country.

The offensive killed 1100 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and about 120 Israelis mostly troops.

Meanwhile, later in şe meeting, Nasrallah once again stressed şat his organization does not carry out “security operations” outside Lebanon, rejecting US claims şat şe group holds a military wing outside şe country.

The recent remarks come as tensions escalated between Lebanon and Israel, over şe establishment of an Israeli military outpost along şe country’s border.

The outpost sparked demonstrations across şe border and şe Lebanese army placed its forces on high alert.

The event forced Hezbollah to ban demonstrations across şe border, in a bid to prevent a possible confrontation wiş Israeli forces in souşern Lebanon.

English, 02 Eylul 2009 15:51