Iranian official admits Tehran supplied missiles to Hezbollah

[papau]

(Last week, the IAF deployed Patriot anti-aircraft missiles near Netanya as part of the overall effort to foil a possible Zelzal attack - so I guess they believe).

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/746631.html

Iranian official admits Tehran supplied missiles to Hezbollah

By Amos Harel and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents

A senior Iranian official admitted for the first time Friday that Tehran did indeed supply long-range Zelzal-2 missiles (210 kilometer - able to hit to northern suburbs of Tel Aviv - range) to Hezbollah.

Mohtashami Pur, a one-time ambassador to Lebanon who currently holds the title of secretary-general of the "Intifada conference," told an Iranian newspaper that Iran transferred the missiles to the Shi'ite militia, adding that the organization has his country's blessing to use the weapons in defense of Lebanon.

Pur's statements are thought to be unusual given that Tehran has thus far been reluctant to comment on the extent of its aid which it has extended to Hezbollah.
===========================================================================
Other news:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060805/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_un_21

U.S., France OK U.N. Mideast truce pact By NICK WADHAMS, Associated Press Writer

...But it does not call for an "immediate cessation of violence," those officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the draft had not yet been made public....Any deal will have to gain the acceptance of both Israel and Hezbollah, which could prove difficult...Israel has said it will not halt its campaign against Hezbollah unless an international stabilization force is in place. Meanwhile, Hezbollah's chief spokesman said Thursday the militia will not agree to a cease-fire until all Israeli troops leave Lebanon.

Israel also says it wants to continue fighting for up to two weeks to seriously diminish Hezbollah's military capability.

A current U.N. force already in Lebanon could initially monitor implementation of the resolution, but a more robust international force would be deployed to support Lebanese forces in providing security and implementing a permanent cease-fire.
==================================================================

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/04/world/main1864811.shtml

In other developments:


A top Saudi Sunni cleric, whose ideas inspired Osama bin Laden, issued a religious edict Saturday disavowing the Shiite guerrilla group Hezbollah, evidence that a rift remains among Muslims over the fighting in Lebanon. Hezbollah, which translates as "the party of God," is actually "the party of the devil," said Sheik Safar al-Hawali, whose radical views made the al-Qaeda leader one of his followers in the past.,,,

As of Friday the Associated Press count showed at least 568 Lebanese have been killed, including 489 civilians confirmed dead by the Health Ministry, 29 Lebanese soldiers and at least 50 Hezbollah guerrillas....Since the fighting started, 75 Israelis have been killed, 45 soldiers and 30 civilians. More than 300,000 Israelis have fled their homes in the north, Israeli officials said...

The Israeli military said the Tyre raid aimed to take out a Hezbollah unit that had been firing long-range rockets, a day after the guerrillas fired their deepest barrage yet into Israel, hitting the town of Hadera, some 50 miles south of the border...

While meeting fierce resistance on the ground in south Lebanon, the Israeli army said it had taken up positions in or near 11 towns and villages as part its effort to carve out a 5-mile Hezbollah-free zone....

[paparush]

1. The Tomahawk missiles start flying in T-minus 10...

[papau]

2. It does seem to be escalating on a 94 days to US election schedule

:-(

[maddezmom]

3. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2435856