Hezbollah denounces deployment of US ships off Lebanon
Saniora: No Foreign Warships in Lebanon”s Territorial Waters
Saniora: No Foreign Warships in Lebanon”s Territorial Waters
Hezbollah on Friday denounced the deployment of U.S. warships off the coast of Lebanon, calling it a threat to the country”s sovereignty, but the Shiite militant group said it would not be intimidated by the move.
The U.S. military said Thursday the Navy was sending at least three ships, including an amphibious assault ship, to the eastern Mediterranean Sea in a show of strength amid tensions with Syria and political uncertainty in Lebanon.
“We are facing an American threat against Lebanon,” Hezbollah legislator Hassan Fadlallah said on local
television. “It is clear this threat and intimidation will not affect us.”
Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria is leading the opposition that seeks to topple the U.S.-backed government in Beirut. The group fought Israel in the 2006 war and is believed to be linked to Muslim militants who attacked U.S. forces and diplomats in Lebanon in 1983-84 during the Lebanese civil war, killing about 270.
Attempts to reach other Hezbollah officials were unsuccessful. Hezbollah”s media office said there was no official comment.
However, Fadlallah”s statements on Aljadeed television gave the scope of the Syrian- and Iranian-backed guerrilla group”s views, and he called on the government of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora to reject the deployment.
Members of Siniora”s U.S.-backed, anti-Syrian coalition said they had no links to the American decision but blamed what they described as Syria”s attempts to undermine Lebanon for bringing tensions to such a level.
Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday the deployment should not be viewed as threatening or in response to events in any single country in the volatile region.
But the decision appeared to be a not-too-subtle show of U.S. force as international frustration mounts in the region over a long political deadlock in tiny, weak Lebanon.
The U.S. blames Syria for the impasse, saying Syria has never given up its ambitions to control its smaller neighbor.
The presidential election in Lebanon has been delayed 15 times. Just this week the date was pushed back to March 11.
The opposition has accused the U.S. of scuttling attempts to settle the political crisis over the president and government that has dragged on for the last 15 months and sharpened since November when Parliament failed to meet to elect a head of state.
Fadlallah said Hezbollah would not be affected by “threats and intimidation and such American military shows which do not affect our choices and decisions.”
Stretching its military muscle is “proof of failure” of the U.S., the Hezbollah lawmaker said.
The deployment made the front page of newspapers in Lebanon. The pro-opposition As-Safir daily called the U.S. decision “provocative” and had the headline: “Cole destroyer in Lebanese waters to terrorize the resistance, Syria and the (Arab) summit.”
Syria is to hold an Arab summit at the end of next month, and U.S.-allied Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt are reportedly threatening to boycott if no president is elected in Lebanon by then.
The U.S. deployment brought back memories of U.S. involvement in Lebanon in the 1980s.
In 1983, at the height of U.S. intervention, about 17 ships — two aircraft carrier battle groups and two mammoth battleships — patrolled the Lebanese coastline with a Marine contingent deployed at Beirut airport.
A suicide bombing destroyed the Marine base in October 1983, killing 241 American service personnel, and a U.S. Embassy building was destroyed by another suicide bomber during that period. U.S. warships also were involved in shelling anti-government Muslim militia positions.
Lebanese territorial waters are now patrolled by a U.N. Naval Task Force that is assisting Lebanese authorities under the U.N. resolution that halted the summer 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The last time U.S. ships came to Lebanon was during the 34-day conflict in 2006, with warships taking part in the evacuation of Americans.
Siniora responds
Prime minister Fouad Siniora responded to Hezbollah attacks during a speech to the Arab ambassadors by saying :
“There are no American ships in the Lebanese territorial water and we never asked for any ships to be sent by any country to Lebanon coast”
Siniora insisted that the Lebanese territorial waters are patrolled only by the Lebanese Navy and UNIFIL Naval ships.
He told the ambassadors that Lebanon is passing through an extremely dangerous stage which is threatening its independence, sovereignty and freedom. This is in reference to Syria”s continued influence on its allies , who are being accused of blocking the presidential elections .
Siniora praised the Arab initiative and Moussa”s efforts in trying to end the impasse.
Siniora denounced the “persistent Israeli crimes in Gaza,” and called on the world community to assume its responsibility in ending the Israeli attacks in Gaza .
After his meeting with the Arab ambassadors , Siniora summoned the US Charge d” affairs and requested an explanation for the US action.