Mid-East Realities | www.middleeast.org |
REPORT: U.S. TELLS LEBANON THAT HEZBOLLAH NEXT TARGET AFTER QUIDA
By Daniel Sobelman, Ha'aretz Correspondent
[Ha'aretz - Tel Aviv - 15 January 2001] According to official U.S. sources quoted Tuesday in the Arab language daily Al-Hayat, Washington sent Lebanon a message that the United States regards Hezbollah as the next item on its list after al-Qaida, and that it is aware of Hezbollah terror activities not directly connected to the organization's conflict with Israel.
The article also states that the U.S. has information that shows a connection between Iran and Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority's weapons ship, the Karine A.
Quoting official U.S. sources, the article states that in addition to the information provided by Israel, the U.S. has its own information showing that Imad Mugniyah, head of operations for the Hezbollah, was involved in the weapons ship affair.
The report, which headlined the Arab newspaper Tuesday, quotes the sources as saying that Palestinian officials and members of Fatah, who were involved with Hezbollah before the Oslo agreements, have renewed their ties with the Lebanese organization.
The sources emphasized that if Lebanon and Syria believe that the administration's position regarding Hezbollah are for domestic purposes, they are very wrong. "The American position on the Hezbollah is determined by the highest levels in the White House," the newspaper quotes U.S. sources as saying.
Mid-East Realities | www.middleeast.org |
Source: http://www.middleeast.org/articles/2002/1/567.htm |