|
Trending Topics
|
The Iranian Takeover of Lebanon
(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - According to Brig.-Gen. Shlomi Binder, the outgoing commander of the Galilee Division, in Lebanon, "Hizbullah is expanding the Iranian foothold. While ordinary citizens don't have food or fuel, Iranian-funded grocery chains and gas stations are assisting the Shi'ite community." "Even if Iran is subject to international sanctions, its aid to Hizbullah, though it has been affected, hasn't stopped. A soldier in Lebanon's army earns less than a Hizbullah operative....The Iranian influence is dangerous, not least because today they are more ready to be bold and play with fire in our direction." The main change in recent years relates to the deployment in southern Lebanon of the Radwan unit, Hizbullah's elite force, after years of experience in the Syrian civil war. "They have tools they didn't have in 2006, notably an attack plan and capability in our territory. They have expanded the firepower aimed at our home front and they have improved their defensive capability in the face of an IDF maneuver." In the next confrontation, Binder says, the goal will be "to finish when Hizbullah has sustained a mortal blow. We will try to reduce significantly their arsenal of all types, to strike at commanders and fighters. The hope is that it will lead to deterrence of many years."