Sponsor |  tigerdragonbrand | May 8, 9:14am | Hezbollah chief says 'War has started'
* Story Highlights
* Firing of airport security chief a provocation, Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah says
* Camera system intended to spy on political rivals, government asserts
* Hezbollah, other factions engaged in power struggle
* Roads blocked in Beirut, gunfire reported in Bekaa Valley
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Gunfire broke out in downtown Beirut Thursday after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said recent government actions amount to "a declaration of open war."
Government loyalists add tires to a burning barricade Thursday outside Beirut, Lebanon.
"Just in the past few minutes ... things have gotten a lot worse," CNN's Cal Perry reported from downtown Beirut. The sound of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades could be heard throughout his live reports.
Perry, who took cover with the Lebanese army, said government forces have not reacted yet to the violence.
The gun battles were taking place between Shiite and Sunni neighborhoods in the capital, near CNN's Beirut Bureau.
Video of the scene shows empty streets and shuttered stores. The violence erupted shortly after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the government's attempts to halt its use of a telecommunications system amounts to "a declaration of open war."
"We believe the war has started and we believe that we have the right to defend ourselves," Nasrallah said in a televised speech. "We will cut the hand that will reach out to the weapons of the resistance no matter if it comes from the inside or the outside."
At the same time, Nasrallah called for dialogue, saying, "We are ready, whoever wants a compromise, we are here and ready."
"Those who have taken decisions leading to war, let them withdraw their decisions and there would be no war," he said.
"Am I declaring war? Not at all. I am declaring oppression and self-defense."
There are concerns that the Hezbollah leader's words will further incite tensions in Beirut, where Hezbollah militants are patrolling the streets and government forces have been deployed. Video Watch soldier, burned cars in streets »
Lebanese Communications Minister Marwan Hamadi said Nasrallah's speech "is a direct threat of assassinating us."
"We are not scared of the threat," Hamadi told al-Arabiya. " 'Cutting off the hands' is a direct threat of assassination.
"He says it is a new phase; we say it is a new phase, too. We are determined to keep what is left of the Lebanese government."
Many Lebanese politicians who have opposed Syria's influence in their country have been assassinated in recent years, including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and four members of parliament.
The latest tensions between Lebanon's U.S.-backed government and Hezbollah were sparked Monday when the government sacked airport security chief Brig. Gen. Wafik Shoukeir.
He was dismissed amid a government investigation into allegations that Hezbollah had installed cameras and other monitoring equipment at the airport.
The government believes Hezbollah was using the equipment to keep tabs on the movement of its opponents in the government.
Nasrallah defended Hezbollah's use of the monitoring equipment, saying it is the right of "any militia during war."
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Sponsor | | ntltrmllgnc | May 8, 9:20am | That hat is a declaration of war. The shoes dissent and vote unanimously to return themselves to the store.
This is lunacy.
Of course when our schools have cameras in school restrooms... And now the Tivo boxes have mics. |
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Sponsor | | Journey | May 8, 10:02am | | Good for Lebanon |
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Sponsor | | penman2 | May 8, 3:36pm | | Poor Lebanon. They're in danger of being overrun and are doing their best to get rid of these dangerous nutters. |
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Sponsor | | Yoza | May 9, 1:04am | Sinister timing, there has been ongoing speculation about when the U.S. and (or) possibly Israel will attack Iran in the 'non-aligned' media for some time now. This government 'crackdown' on Hezbollah coincides with the onslaught against Sadre city and the Israeli escalation of military violence in Gaza. There seems to be a desperate attempt to provoke an attack that can be used as an example of Iranian designs in the greater region as a pretext to carrying out an attack on Iran.
What is missing from the Reuters article is instructive by its absence, "We believe the war has started and we believe that we have the right to defend ourselves," Nasrallah said in a televised speech. "We will cut the hand that will reach out to the weapons of the resistance no matter if it comes from the inside or the outside.", the 'weapon' Nasrallah is referring to is the Hezbollah 'private/military telecommunication network: Al Jazeera English - News - Nasrallah Hits Out At Government"It is also investigating Hezbollah's private telephone network.
Nasrallah insisted that Hezbollah's telephone network, was an "essential tool for managing combat" and stressed its importance to Hezbollah in its role as a "resistance movement".
"We don't have the technologies that the Americans and Israelis have," he said, calling the government's investigation "a declaration of war and the launching of war by the government ... for the benefit of America and Israel".
He said that Hezbollah would act to stop any attempt by the government to dismantle the network.
Commenting on Nasrallah's speech, Rami Khoury, editor-at-large for Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star, said Nasrallah had been careful to present Hezbollah as acting out of self-defence.
"He's made it clear that the government has declared war on Hezbollah and Hezbollah is defending itself," he told Al Jazeera."
The dismantling of the Hezbollah network would be a deadly blow to that organization, so it is hardly surprising that Hezbollah has reacted so assertively. |
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Sponsor | | penman2 | May 9, 1:31am | You could well be right about the timing, but I know that the Lebanese would like to see Hezbollah leave their country and have been working on bringing their armed forces up to strength (previously emasculated by Syria) before confronting them.
Hezbollah, on the other hand, seem to be giving up on returning to Palestine as a strategy (despite their rhetoric) and may be intent on making Lebanon the 'new Palestine', attempting to take over the Government.
Whatever is happening, it's not fair on the Lebanese, who are largely innocent.
All this makes the 60th anniversary of the creation of Israel even more painful. |
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Sponsor | | ntltrmllgnc | May 9, 7:08am | | I can see it now. War driving wireless users must be with Hezbollah. |
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Sponsor | | topshelf | May 9, 8:02am | | Hobble Iran and the Middle East will settle down. |
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Sponsor | | topshelf | May 9, 11:35am | Ha ha,the ideal thing to do is switch allegiances...
Kinda like from England to France in as far as posturing.:-)
That would be a good hobble where the population would appreciate it,rather than offering their children and nitwits up for a jihad. |
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