Thursday
14 Feb 2008
Hezbollah Declares “Open War” Against Israel
By Annie Jacobsen in category U.S. Homeland Security
Broadcasting from a giant video screen during the funeral for Imad Mughniyeh in South Beirut, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel with "open war." Mughniyeh was killed by a car bomb in Damascus, Syria on February 12th; Hezbollah blames Israel. From the Associated Press:
"You have crossed the borders," he [Nasrallah] said. "With this murder, its timing, location and method — Zionists, if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open."
''Mughniyeh's blood will lead to the elimination of Israel. These words are not an emotional reaction,'' he said, drawing roars from the crowd which raised fists into the air.
Nasrallah vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets anywhere in the world.
Israel ordered its military, embassies and Jewish institutions overseas to go on alert Thursday, fearing revenge attacks for a car bomb that killed Mughniyeh — accused of masterminding dramatic attacks that killed hundreds of Americans in Lebanon in the 1980s.
Hezbollah and its Iranian backers blamed Israel but Israel denied involvement.
Today marks the third anniversary of the assination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri — killed by car bomb as his motorcade drove through Beirut on February 14, 2005. A United Nations investigation linked the Syrian government to Harari's murder.
(Photo caption: Agence France-Presse — Getty Images via Manar TV)