Six foiled Hezbollah attacks likely behind Israel-Lebanon tension
Israel threatens to respond against Hezbollah in Lebanon if organization stages a major attack.
By Amos Harel Tags: Hezbollah Turkey Israel newsThe series of attacks on Israeli targets in Turkey planned by Hezbollah, as reported in the Turkish media, which was foiled by Turkish security forces two months ago, is likely to have caused the tension between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanon border this past summer and fall.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri told Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday that he sought to improve the relations between their countries to better defend Lebanon against Israel , the Syrian news agency Champress reported.
So far, there have been reports of at least six foiled attacks by the organization against Israeli targets overseas, as retaliation for the killing of senior Hezbollah leader Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus in February 2008, which the group attributes to Israel. It's possible that the actual number of attempts that have been prevented is at least twice that number - if not more.
Last week Haaretz reported an attempt by Hezbollah to attack Israelis in Turkey, as reported in the Turkish media. Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon (Yisrael Beiteinu) even praised the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terror during a meeting with Turkish journalists, and thanked the Turks for their help in preventing the attacks.
In October, the Turkish media reported that police headquarters had briefed police officers in a number of cities to be on the alert for Hezbollah attempts to attack American and Israeli targets in Turkey. Iranian agents, posing as tourists, were thought to be assisting these potential the attacks.
Hezbollah's planned attacks, as reported in the Turkish media, were extremely ambitious and organized well in advance, reportedly with the help of Syrian and Iranian intelligence. It is suspected that they planned to attack a series of targets connected to Israel and possibly also the Turkish Jewish community - all at the same time.
Turkish security forces managed to uncover the plot after receiving information from a Western intelligence service. The foiled attempts may explain the numerous warnings Israel has issued since August to Hezbollah to abstain from acts the group might regret. Israel has threatened to respond against Hezbollah in Lebanon if the organization staged a major attack in Turkey.
Since the death of Mughniyeh, the head of Hezbollah's terror operations, in a mysterious car bombing in Damascus, Hezbollah leaders and even the Iranian media have time after time threatened Israel to avenge his death. But Hezbollah has avoided attacking Israel on its northern border and instead seems to have focused its resources on Israeli targets abroad, using the services of Iranian intelligence and the Revolutionary Guards.
In addition to the attempts foiled in Turkey, international media have reported a long list of other foiled Hezbollah attempts in other countries. Since the countries involved usually have an interest in keeping the information under wraps, it is assumed that the actual number of such planned attacks is much higher.
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This is just the Israelis propaganda system duty, To make and spread rumors, like this big lie. Israel just want to disarrange the relations between Iran an Turkey, and that is because of Also they want to improve their relations with Turkey.
To read Chris or Natalie is the wet dream of Israeli conspiracy theorists around the world. In this world, Israel and the Jews are responsible for all things bad that happen around the world. I guess Hezbollah is a boys scout club of do- gooders who never harm innocents and protect the righteous. Yea right! Witness their admitted (by Nasrallah) mistake of attacking Israel by crossing internationally recognized borders to start the 2006 war. The recent audio tape released last week by Al-Quiada 2nd in command directing Hamas and Hezbollah(as well any other terrorists)to carry the war(murdering innocent civilians) all over the world. So much for Natalie's remarks about Hezbollah being confined to Lebanon and Israel. They get their money from Iran and do whatever Iran demands and Iran backed the statement last week to carry the war all over.
sign a "non-aggression pact" with Israel instead of kidnapping soldiers.
"This plays well to the home crowd, but those with more intelligence see it for what it is". Durson. Clearly, you are not one of them.
No.6 cannot be as ridiculous as he sounds. Hezbollah has stated that they will attack Israeli and Jewish targets wherever they can. They have accomplished this in Argentina and other places as well as having been thwarted in many others. Netahanyu has not made it a policy to attack Iran however Israeli leaders would be wise to have a contingency plan to deal with a boisterous belligerant antagonist that kills it`s own citizens with vigour for desiring a free election. Chris is obviously a fan of the anti democratic forces that are desirous of eliminating Israel and should be viewed as such.
and are not a teror organization. Ha! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! John #1- had they succeeded at killing people in Turkey, including Turkish Jews, would that make it worth it in response to one man's death when Israel retaliates against Lebanon and kills thousands again?
They are terrorists, why not hit easy targets? It is what they do.
At which time Israeli leftists will join with the Arabs decrying it.
The timing here explains why Lebanon's al-Hariri is all of a sudden kissing up to Syria. They fear a massive Israeli military response to any Hiabollah attack on Israelis and/or Jews abroad and they want Syria by their side.
There is nothing easier then attacking undefended and unsusecting targets in a foreign land. It doesn't take an elaborate "Rube Goldberg" plan that somehow always gets leaked to the intelligence service. When you see such silly antics, you know that the Mossad is at work. You may remember them as the ones that poisoned Meshal in Jordan then had to give him the antidote. They were also known for their antics in Australia and New Zealand. We have not heard from them lately. This does not mean that they are not at work. Israel is not run by subtle people. Rather than faking one or two Hizbollah attacks, they fake six. This plays well to the home crowd, but those with more intelligence see it for what it is.
You don't have to be funded by Iran to hate Israels illicit and oppressive treatment of the Palestinians. I am not exactly alone in my criticism. In fact, many western leaders share my opinions, especially as regards Israeli expansion into the territories. It is time that Israel take responsibility for its own brutal actions and and admit that its treatment of the Palestinians helps Israel achieve its goal of annexing the entire west bank.
In a time in which Israel kills hundreds of civilians at once, as we saw in the 2006 war and the Gaza op, civilians have become the preferred target. They are easier to find and kill and have no defenses. There is no reason why Hizbollah should not learn from Israel in this regard. As to the "six foiled Hizbollah attacks", don't beieve it. Hizbolah is perfectly capable of hitting their targets as we have seen before. When Hizbollah makes an attack you will know it. DO not think that Israeli intelligence is there to do nothing. They are actively attempting to turn world opinion against Hizbollah by simulating attacks in other nations, such as Turkey and Canada. Hizbollah does not operate outside their region and their abilities are well known.
Israel should heed it's own advice and not commit acts that it may regret. If Israel had heeded its own advice it would not be worried about retaliation attacks now.
When they are facilitating the importation of weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. I think Israel is trying to link Iran with terrorism perpertrated by Hezbollah in an attempt to gain access to Turkish airspace so as to provoke Iran into a war in the hope of drawing the Unites States into conflict against Iran on the side of Israel. Afterall attacking Iran militarily is an election pledge of Netanyahu.
The BBC told me so!
In the world of post WWII those who plan, incite, contribute to the killing of and those that kill Jews will always been in the sight lines of those seeking to defend Jews. (a) its far from clear that Israel was involved (given that Israel has been prepared to take credit when credit is due) & (b) if the Israelies did do it, its not just a single guy. What would be unfortunate is any continued escalation on either side. Life is too short as is.
Comments? Haaretz readership is blessed with you, its exclusive Iranian reps. Say Israel actually did kill him, how is killing random Israeli tourists and Turkish Jews a response? Anyway, I am surprised your funding got restored after a period of silence. I guess Revolutionary Guard is getting desperate.
Something will get through. Sometimes just the anticipation is enough stress. Was it worth it to kill one guy?