Blood ran though the streets of Beirut today as the Hezb'allah terrorist group stoked a mass protest and fierce clashes with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades that paralyzed the city.
The fighting is some of Lebanon's worst internal clashes since the country's 1975-1990 civil war.
At least five people reportedly were killed and 12 more were wounded as the street fighting erupted immediately after Hezb'allah, which is backed by Iran and Syria, claimed that the pro-democracy movement of Lebanon's government declared war by targeting Hezb'allah's communications network.
The Lebanese government earlier decided to dismantle and take legal action against Hezb'allah's communications network amid accusations the terror group set up a system to monitoring the travels of anti-Syrian Lebanese figures.
A number of anti-Syrian leaders have been killed the past three years, since mass protests forced the Syrian government to end its nearly 30-year occupation of Lebanon.
The protests were sparked after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese president Rafiq Hariri, for which Syria has been widely blamed.
The Lebanese government's cabinet yesterday decided to remove the security chief of Beirut airport's over his alleged ties to Hezb'allah after the country's top prosecutor began investigating allegations Hezb'allah set up a system of cameras near the airport.
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt was the first to make the claim this past weekend when he told the media Hezb'allah was planning to assassinate pro-democracy leaders, possibly including himself, by bombing an aircraft.
Addressing followers today, Hezb'allah chief Hassan Nasrallah claimed the Lebanese government declared war by deciding to dismantle his group's communications infrastructure.
"This decision is first of all a declaration of war and the launching of war by the government ... against the resistance and its weapons for the benefit of America and Israel," said Nasrallah, speaking from an unknown location by video link.
He called Hezb'allah's communications system a "significant part of the weapons of the resistance" and vowed to "cut off the hand" that tries to dismantle it.
He apparently called for clashes by stating, "I had said that we will cut the hand that targets the weapons of the resistance. ... Today is the day to fulfill this decision."
Shortly after Nasrallah's speech, heavy clashes with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades ensued between Hezb'allah supporters and pro-democracy fighters in the Mazraa and Ras el-Nabae districts of Beirut and later spread to other areas.
Israeli security officials speaking to WND noted the apparently planned aspects of the clashes in which both sides were heavily armed. They also noted what they said was an increase in recent weeks in the street price of rocket-propelled grenades.
Yesterday and earlier today, Hezb'allah supporters attempted to siege Beirut's airport by blocked main roads leading to the airport, reportedly paralyzing much of the city.
Lebanon has been mired in a political crisis the past 17 months and has been without a president since November amid a standoff between Hezb'allah and its supporters against pro-democracy forces led by Prime Minister Faoud Sinora. Hezb'allah has blocked attempts to name a new president, fearing the new figure would be anti-Syrian.
(WND)
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