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Last update - 08:45 08/11/2009
Report: Hezbollah rearming for imminent conflict with Israel
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel news 

Militant group Hezbollah is rapidly rearming and reinforcing positions in southern Lebanon in preparation for a new conflict with Israel, British newspaper the Observer reported on Sunday.

"Sure, we are rearming, we have even said that we have far more rockets and missiles than we did in 2006," a Hezbollah commander told the Observer speaking on condition of anonymity.

The 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel began after Hezbollah militants launched a cross-border attack and kidnapped two Israel Defense Forces soldiers.
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"We had to blow up or leave some of our bunkers and fighting positions, but we still have plenty of capabilities in the south," the commander told the Observer. "We expect the Israelis to come soon, if not this winter, then they will wait until spring, when the ground isn't too soft for their tanks."

Israeli commandos on Wednesday seized a ship that defense officials said was carrying hundreds of tons of weapons from Iran bound for Hezbollah guerrillas - the largest arms shipment Israel has ever commandeered.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is expected to respond to the seizure of the arms shipment on Wednesday, but the group has thus far denied a link to the freighter.

The Observer report also quoted a military expert on Hezbollah, who believes the group to be preparing for war with Israel.

"It's clear that Hezbollah no longer controls the border, due to the presence of UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] troops," Andrew Exum, a military expert on Hezbollah at the Centre for New American Security, told the Guardian.

"They appear to be hardening the villages for this next round of fighting, while pushing their fixed positions north away from UNIFIL to protect the approaches to Beirut and the Bekaa Valley."

Israeli military and intelligence analysts have said that a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities would first require weakening Hezbollah's capability to disrupt life in northern Israel with its rockets, according to the Observer report.
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  1.   Hezbollah has the right and duty to prepare for defense! 10:53  |  Jaap 08/11/09
  2.   #1 What was "defensive" about the 2006 body snatching 11:22  |  fo realz 08/11/09
  3.   The UN has indicated the Borders between 11:25  |  Rachel 08/11/09
  4.   #1 Jaap is being ridiculous 11:37  |  Sam! 08/11/09
  5.   Threats of war. 14:56  |  Stephen. 08/11/09
  6.   Rachel - The UN has indicated the borders between 15:11  |  CJ 08/11/09
  7.   Hezbollah will lead Lebanon into catastrophe 15:12  |  IW 08/11/09
  8.   #2. The same as Israel`s piracy on the high seas. 15:13  |  Mark 08/11/09
  9.   Actually after reading the article 15:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/11/09
  10.   IW - UH??? Goldstone hasn`t protected anyone 15:35  |  CJ 08/11/09
  11.   #1 Jaap excuses occupation 15:40  |  Ky 08/11/09
  12.   I suppose Hezb has decided that next time 15:53  |  As Salim 08/11/09
  13.   PUT HIZBS TO SLEEP, PLEASE, ISRAEL 16:17  |  JEROME 08/11/09
  14.   Hezbollah 17:02  |  Bobby P 08/11/09
  15.   #11 Ky: Sad 17:52  |  BDS 08/11/09
  16.   The government hasn`t decided yet 17:55  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/09
  17.   WHY LEBANON ATTACK ISRAEL ALL THE TIME? 18:32  |  Ricardo Ibrahim 08/11/09
  18.   KY IS RIGHT, BDS WRONG 19:11  |  Marco Antonio 08/11/09
  19.   RE-REPORTING FOREIGN MEDIA 19:18  |  hal 08/11/09
  20.   CJ`s Knowledge of History=ZERO 19:23  |  sfg 08/11/09
  21.   The UN Must Stay Vigilant and Condemn Hezbollah 20:28  |  Guy 08/11/09
  22.   to #20 21:08  |  patrick 08/11/09
  23.   JEROME 21:12  |  northern neighbor 08/11/09
  24.   Jaap # 1 21:17  |  J.K. 08/11/09
  25.   jaap 21:29  |  Daniela 08/11/09
  26.   Hezbollah has no rights whatesoever. 22:03  |  Brad 08/11/09
  27.   Hezbollah 00:13  |  William McCullough 09/11/09
  28.   as long as barak is DM.Hezbollah will not fear Israel 01:05  |  chaim 09/11/09
  29.   Hizbollah Exist to make terror and war 01:13  |  Baruch Gold 09/11/09
  30.   As Salim from Tunis .... a good person 01:51  |  dudi 09/11/09
  31.   The bottom line is the important one 01:57  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
  32.   Israel shoud be prepared to be atackes by hezbullah 07:36  |  charro 09/11/09
  33.   hizbullah is for war not for peace. 07:40  |  charro 09/11/09
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