Evidence of Hezbollah arms depots in Syria exposed

Hezbollah is running weapons, including surface-to-surface missiles, from secret arms depots in Syria to its bases in Lebanon, according to security sources.

The Times has been shown satellite images of one of the sites, a compound near the town of Adra, northeast of Damascus, where militants have their own living quarters, an arms storage site and a fleet of lorries reportedly used to ferry weapons into Lebanon. (more…)

Hariri asks UN for evidence of Hezbollah arms smuggling

Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed during his meeting in New York with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon the need to put an end to Israeli air, sea and land violations of the Lebanese sovereignty. Hariri also reiterated demands for evidence on the smuggling of weapons across the border into Lebanon. (more…)

Iran threatens to make an enemy of Russia over sanctions

Iranian President, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, criticized Russia’s latest stance against his country, describing it as “unacceptable.” Addressing a massive crowd in the city of Kerman, Ahmadinejad called on the Russian government to reconsider its position so that the Iranian people will not add Russia to the list of Tehran’s historical enemies.

While Iranians are used to attacks by their political leaders against the US administration, they have not heard this tone of voice used against Russia. (more…)

Israel charges alleged Hezbollah spies

Two prominent members of the Arab community in Israel were charged for spying and allegedly giving information about the location of Israeli defense facilities to Lebanon’s militant Shiite Hezbollah movement.

The indictment of Ameer Makhoul , the general director of Ittijah, a union of Arab organizations in Israel, and Omar Sayid, a member of the Israeli Arab political party Balad, coincided with what some here say is a broader campaign by Israel to intimidate activists who speak out against the idea of Israel remaining a homeland for Jews. (more…)

Sarkozy wants to strengthen ties with Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman received Thursday a letter from Nicolas Sarkozy expressing interest in further strengthening the relations between Lebanon and France.

Sarkozy is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday en route to Washington, after he received a last-minute invitation for talks with US President Barack Obama. (more…)

Walid Jumblatt in Syria on an unannounced visit

Walid Jumblatt arrived in Damascus at 4:30pm on Thursday on an unannounced visit.

According to New TV, the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party arrived as the head of Intelligence of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, Col. Wissam Al-Hasan, left the Syrian capital briefly thereafter. Al-Hasan is closely tied politically to Prime Minister Saad Hariri. (more…)

Geagea: Hezbollah is forcing Lebanon to war

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Hezbollah on Thursday of shifting Lebanon from its “neutral stance” to the defense line of Iran without the will of its people, government and parliament.

“The region is unstable and boiling and Hezbollah is putting Lebanon in a hot oil cooking pot,” Geagea said during a press conference.

The Hezbollah leader’s remarks are “rejected and totally unacceptable,” Geagea told reporters. (more…)

Nasrallah criticized for threatening Israel in speech

In an interview with LBCI television on Thursday, Lebanon First bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat criticized Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah’s threat to bomb Israeli ships if Tel Aviv attacks the Lebanese coastline.

“This is a mobilizing speech. Israel could step up its attacks and threats because of this political speech,” Fatfat said. He said no one should give Tel Aviv a pretext to attack Lebanon again. (more…)

Lebanese authorities destroy opium fields

Security forces on Wednesday began destroying poppy fields in eastern Lebanon in a campaign aimed at stamping out drug production.

Voice of Lebanon radio said the destruction of the fields in the barren terrains of Hermel began in the morning and will continue until police eradicate remaining plantations in the area. (more…)

Obama to Israel: No war with Lebanon

U.S. President Barack Obama will reportedly press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the White House next week, not to wage war on Lebanon “for whatever reason, motive or justification.”

The daily An-Nahar on Thursday, which carried the report, quoted ministerial sources as saying that Obama will also ask Netanhayu to facilitate success of the U.S.-brokered Middle East peace process. (more…)