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Powell: Hizballah "Caused" Israel to Respond
(AFP/UPI/Washington Times) Secretary of State Colin Powell blamed Hizballah for forcing Israel to bomb the Shiite Muslim militia's bases in southern Lebanon and called on Syria to cease all support for the group. "I think it's unfortunate that Hizballah once again has caused this need for a response," Powell said, referring to its attack on Monday that killed an Israeli soldier and prompted Israel's raid on two empty Hizballah bases in southern Lebanon. "The deliberate action they took, which resulted in the loss of life, once again demonstrates the nature of that organization, and we believe that all parties that are interested in peace should condemn this kind of action by Hizballah," Powell said. "I would hope the Syrians would once again understand that any support - whether it's vocal support or allowing their leadership to stay in Damascus or whether it's serving as a transshipment point for weapons to Hizballah - is destabilizing in the region and not in the interest of peace," he said.