Iranian onslaught on Lebanon continues

What exactly is Iran trying to accomplish? Their militias are still killing Lebanese people. Their militias are still operating outside of their normal occupation zone. Iranian Hezbullah and Amal has been slating their lust for blood in Druze areas. At least 81 people have been killed, and for what other than expanding the occupation zone?

One of the things that is being reported is that the Army has stayed neutral. In my opinion this is wrong on several accounts. It really looks like the Army is acting on behalf of the Iranian militias.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have swept through Beirut and hills to the east, defeating loyalists of the U.S.-backed government before handing its conquests to the Lebanese army, which has stayed out of the fighting.

One source said the dead in Sunday's battles included 14 Hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah-led forces overran several posts held by gunmen loyal to Walid Jumblatt in the Aley district before the Druze leader agreed to hand them over to the army.

Swallowing his pride, Jumblatt had authorized Talal Arsalan, a rival Syrian-backed Druze leader, to mediate with Hezbollah.

Arsalan said Jumblatt's men had handed over most of their offices and strongholds in Aley to the army, but said he was still waiting for them to turn in heavy weapons and arms depots.

Now why should the Sunnis and Druze have to be the ones handing over their weapons to the Army? What the Army is doing is holding the territory conquered by the Iranian militias. The Army’s responsibility is to protect the citizens of Lebanon. And how did they fulfill that responsibility during the Iranian military onslaught? Why they warned employees of a legal TV station to evacuate, because the station was next on the list to suppress press freedom.

The army, which had stayed on the sidelines until moving into Beirut neighborhoods on Saturday, brought in more armor and troops to seal off neighborhoods where top pro-government leaders - Hariri of the Sunnis and Walid Jumblatt of the Druze - were holed up in their residences.

Violence also erupted in the mountain town of Aley east of Beirut. Eight people were killed there on Friday night. Another civilian died in the clashes in the southern city of Sidon.

Hezbollah's power was demonstrated dramatically Friday morning when it forced off the air the TV station affiliated with Hariri's party. Gunmen also set the offices of the party's newspaper, Al-Mustaqbal, on fire in the coastal neighborhood of Ramlet el-Bayda. Shi'ite gunmen from Hezbollah and Amal, and allied group, roamed unopposed through the deserted streets of neighborhoods once dominated by supporters of Hariri and the government.

Lebanon's army only intervened after the building was set ablaze. Troops provided cover for firefighters, who eventually extinguished the flames.

The army also evacuated employees from the TV station, but only after gunmen massed near it and threatened to destroy it, said Nadim Mounla, the station's chief.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asked the Army to declare a state of emergency once the militias started their murder of Lebanese citizens. Instead General Michel Suleiman refused and threatened instead to order the troops back to their barracks. But he is content to do the bidding for Iran. Hezbollah’s media outlets are still operating, but Suleiman enforced the orders to keep Future TV off the air.

The Government has been abandoned by their Arab supporters. Words are not going to help. Who could have militarily come to their aid? Jordan, doubtful. The United States, by multiple means possible (air strikes via Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and by basing air craft in Israel.) France yes. Saudi Arabia possible if they were allowed to go thru Jordan. Israel possible, but they are sitting on the sidelines, for now. Things change if the military option includes strikes on Syria. Now you have Turkey able to bring pressure to bear.

Now another interesting thing has happened. Al-Qaeda has called upon its supporters to come in to support the Sunnis.

Al-Qaeda Declares War On Hezbollah

Al-Qaeda has reportedly called on its operatives to go to Lebanon and defend what it called the Sunni community of the country.

The report came while some Arab media outlets described the current clashes in Lebanon as a fight between Sunni and Shia communities.

In an interviews with Sunni clerics with links to Saad Hariri's pro-government bloc, Al-Arabiya TV network described the ongoing clashes as a sectarian strife.

Sheikh Ali al-Jozo, Mufti of the Jebel region, who is well known for his harsh stance against Hezbollah told the TV network that the clashes are a battle between Lebanon's Shia and Sunni communities and called on Arab leaders to prevent "Iran's influence in the country."

The TV network reported that al-Qaeda on all of its websites urged its operatives to defend the Sunni community of Lebanon.

The reports came while in interviews with NBN and al-Manar TV stations on Thursday, a number of Sunni clerics said that the clashes are not a sectarian strife and many Sunni Muslims in Lebanon support Hezbollah.

Can also be seen at

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=54916&sectionid=351020203

I have not read of anything other than calls to action. Maybe the Al-Qaeda operatives are on their way? Where will they strike, assuming they decide to? It is hard to know, as they could strike Iran and / or Syria as they are the puppet masters behind the carnage in Lebanon. They could strike in Lebanon, but then they would have to transit thru Syria. Time will tell.