Hezbollah is in a state of high alert due to the fact that it has been forced to fight simultaneously on two fronts. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)
For 25 years now, Hezbollah has been engaged in a war with many powerful intelligence outfits from around the world. These intelligence agencies have devoted tremendous resources to collect information on the party, in addition to pursuing both its civilian and military activities, not to mention carrying out assassinations against its cadre and leadership.
Israel has played a key role in these efforts, but it is hardly alone. After the assassination of Rafik Hariri in 2005, Hezbollah was subjected to the most ferocious campaign against it, with former US ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman admitting before Congress that Washington spent $500 million to undermine the party’s image.
After the outbreak of the Syrian uprising and Hezbollah’s open declaration of its involvement in the country’s fighting, the campaign intensified, with mounting threats to the party and its supporters that they may be subjected to revenge attacks.
First, the Resistance’s Dahiyeh stronghold was shelled with rockets. Similar attacks followed on many towns and villages in Baalbeck and Hermel. These were followed by roadside bombs targeting Hezbollah members on the main Lebanese highway to Syria, culminating in the massive Bir al-Abed blast in the heart of Dahiyeh.
Hezbollah is in a state of high alert due to the fact that it has been forced to fight simultaneously on two fronts. This has prompted Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah to tell the party’s cadre that they must be prepared for attacks that may involve both Syrian and Lebanese groups, without dropping their guard against their main enemy – Israel.
On the eve of Hezbollah’s engagement in the battle of Qusayr, it initiated a plan that involved:
– a series of practical steps to prevent the killing of Lebanese civilians held by the Syrian opposition in the north of the country;
– securing areas that may become targets of reprisals, including the border areas, Beirut, and South Lebanon.
The question today is: Who thought up an adventure of this kind against the Resistance? I wonder whether they thought about the party’s reaction.
Who are these people? Are they groups within the Free Syrian Army or the Salafi al-Nusra Front? Are they jihadi elements in Lebanon active in the North and Bekaa? Could they be Palestinians who have abandoned their cause to work as agents serving another agenda?
Who is helping them inside Lebanon? What are the Internal Security Forces (who take orders from the Future Party) doing about it? They seem to care little about people’s safety and are mainly concerned with collecting information on the Resistance.
In any case, Hezbollah has surprised friend and foe on more than one occasion in their intelligence capabilities. So, will the Resistance surprise us again by revealing who is behind these attacks?
Ibrahim al-Amin is editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar.
ابراهيم الأمين
منذ ربع قرن، يواجه حزب الله معركة أمنية مفتوحة في وجه أجهزة استخبارات من كل العالم. وفي هذه الحرب جمع معلومات ومتابعة أنشطته المدنية والعسكرية، الى ملاحقة واغتيال كوادر وقيادات.
لعبت إسرائيل الدور الأبرز، لكنها لم تكن وحدها الطرف المنفّذ.
بعد اغتيال رفيق الحريري، تعرّض الحزب لأقسى حملة تحريض، ترافقت مع أعمال أمنية ضد كوادره وقيادييه. وصل الأمر بجيفري فيلتمان إلى الإعلان أمام الكونغرس أن بلاده أنفقت 500 مليون دولار لتشويه صورة المقاومة.
لعبت إسرائيل الدور الأبرز، لكنها لم تكن وحدها الطرف المنفّذ.
بعد اغتيال رفيق الحريري، تعرّض الحزب لأقسى حملة تحريض، ترافقت مع أعمال أمنية ضد كوادره وقيادييه. وصل الأمر بجيفري فيلتمان إلى الإعلان أمام الكونغرس أن بلاده أنفقت 500 مليون دولار لتشويه صورة المقاومة.