Israeli strikes kill 6 Hezbollah fighters in Syria

[webfact]

Israeli strikes kill 6 Hezbollah fighters in Syria
By DIAA HADID and ZEINA KARAM

BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike in Syria on Sunday killed the son of a slain top Hezbollah commander and at least five other fighters in a move that could ratchet up tensions with the powerful Lebanese Shiite movement, which recently boasted of rockets that can hit any part of the Jewish state.

Hezbollah militants in towns and villages along the border with Israel went on high alert, said an official from the group. In the Shiite-dominated areas of south Lebanon and Beirut, the streets emptied quickly as residents feared an escalation. Hezbollah-run al-Manar TV warned that Israel was "playing with fire that puts the security of the whole Middle East on edge."

In a statement issued to the media, Hezbollah identified one of the six slain men as Jihad Mughniyeh, the son of Imad Mughniyeh, a top Hezbollah operative assassinated in 2008 in Damascus. Hezbollah blames Israel for the killing and has long vowed to avenge his death.

The younger Mughniyeh is one of the most prominent Hezbollah officials to die in Syria since the group entered the fray in 2012, fighting alongside President Bashar Assad's forces against the Sunni-led rebellion.

The dead also included another senior Hezbollah commander, Mohammed Issa, and at least one Iranian national with the group, the statement said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the slain Iranian belonged to the Revolutionary Guards. The group, which obtains its information from a network of activists on the ground, said the Israeli strikes hit two vehicles and a home. It said the fighters were in the area to plan attacks along the Israeli-controlled frontier.

Other Hezbollah officials said Sunday's strike targeted two Hezbollah vehicles as fighters were inspecting positions in the Golan Heights, close to the Israeli-controlled frontier, in an area known as Mazrat al-Amal. Israel seized part of the mountainous Golan Heights plateau from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war.

"While a group of Hezbollah fighters were on a field inspection of the town, Mazrat al-Amal, ... they faced rocket shelling from helicopters of the Israeli enemy, leading to the martyrdom of a number of holy warrior brothers, whose names will be announced once their honorable families have been informed," the Hezbollah statement said.

Israel's military did not comment on Sunday's incident.

A Syrian activist said Hezbollah was widely rumored to be training pro-Assad militiamen and Syrian government forces near the area of the strikes. The activist, who uses the name Abu Omar, said Mazrat al-Amal was close to rebel positions, and that they had obtained the information from people there.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a devastating war in 2006, but since then have largely shied away from direct confrontation. On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel and threatened to invade the Galilee region of northern Israel in the next war between the two bitter foes.

Lebanese political analyst Imad Salamey said Hezbollah's hands could be tied because it is so heavily invested in Syria. "It's an awkward situation," he said.

He said Hezbollah was unlikely to open up a second front in Lebanon while so many of its fighters are bogged down in Syria, and that it probably would not retaliate from Syria because it "invites increasing involvement by Israel to attack its operation inside Syria."

"It does not have much to work with," Salamey said.

Since Syria's conflict began in March 2011, Israel has carried out several airstrikes in Syria that have targeted sophisticated weapons systems, including Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles and Iranian-made missiles, believed to be destined for Hezbollah.

The last such airstrike was in early December, when Israeli warplanes struck near Damascus' international airport, as well as outside a town close to the Syria-Lebanon border.

Jihad Mughniyeh was born in 1989, making him either 25 or 26. Hezbollah officials said Mughniyeh was one of the Hezbollah fighters tasked with overseeing operations in the Golan Heights.

He was a Hezbollah student activist at the Lebanese American University, and took on a more prominent role after the death of his father. His photograph has been taken with Nasrallah, the group's leader, and with the powerful Iranian Gen. Ghasem Soleimani, highlighting his prominence within the group.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
___

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-19

[marquisdesade]

Bravo !!!!

[Baerboxer]

Way to go Israel.

[Thaiready]

I'm waiting on the sympathizers.......In the mean while....hip hip horay.

[mania]

I did not even know Israel was dropping/firing on Syria

I knew US has been bombing there

What other (non Arab) nations are involved there now?

I remember reading back in Sept that Europe drew the line at Syria only offering

to help in Iraq

[ABCer]

On one hand - very good ! Congratulations to the West !

On the other hand - very sad that so many people have to die ! On both sides !

I know, terrorists are what they are. It is their choice - to die.

But when the Isolationism was the Rule - for 600 years Jews and Christians lived in relative peace side by side with Muslims... without Jihad!

Democrats! Liberals! Multiculturalists! Tolerantos! Great Leaders of the World! - Thank you all!

No wonder it is said that the road to Hell is paved with best intentions...

Edited January 19, 2015 by ABCer

[Steely Dan]

One of the deceased had Jihad as a Christian name, so to speak. I guess the deceased were simply out picnicking in the Golan.

[rickirs]

"one Iranian national with the group"

See what happens when you bypass immigraion control.

[uptheos]

This is terrible news.........only 6 terrorists

[Seastallion]

" On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel "

So, Israel crosses the border and kills some Lebanese. Are they asking for it, or baiting?

My guess is baiting. Hezbolah fires some rockets, which gives Israel an excuse to go all out.

[joepublic]

Contempt for other peoples sovereignty is something that is par for the course for the Zionists. That why they are shunned by the International Community and are losing the military and PR war.

[Ulysses G.]

Claiming that Israel are losing the military war is nothing short of delusional and the PR war does not really matter much as long as the Palestinian Authority is allied with a terrorist group - can't get worse PR than that.

Edited January 19, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[i claudius]

Contempt for other peoples sovereignty is something that is par for the course for the Zionists. That why they are shunned by the International Community and are losing the military and PR war.

keep on dreaming because that's all your doing

[ggold]

Contempt for other peoples sovereignty is something that is par for the course for the Zionists. That why they are shunned by the International Community and are losing the military and PR war.

Until recently there was no need for Israel to act. The Syrian army had the Golan sealed tight against even hezbolah trying to infiltrate into israel from there. Quneitra is vertually no mans land, an area that was controled by the UN until they decided it was too dangerous to stay.

So it's not a question of a nations sovereignty in this case. Simply stopping Terrorists from causing problems, the fact that an Irainian was with them should be more of a worry.

Other than that you are joking, yes?

[Chicog]

Maybe not such a smart move when IS are massing on the Lebanon border.

One thing about Hezbollah is they don't usually resort to suicide bombing and beheading.

Edited January 19, 2015 by Chicog

[Chicog]

Contempt for other peoples sovereignty is something that is par for the course for the Zionists. That why they are shunned by the International Community and are losing the military and PR war.

Until recently there was no need for Israel to act. The Syrian army had the Golan sealed tight against even hezbolah trying to infiltrate into israel from there. Quneitra is vertually no mans land, an area that was controled by the UN until they decided it was too dangerous to stay.

So it's not a question of a nations sovereignty in this case. Simply stopping Terrorists from causing problems, the fact that an Irainian was with them should be more of a worry.

An Iranian with Hezbollah, well who saw that coming?

[ExPratt]

I'd say this is also Israel trying to throw as many spanners in the work as possible to destabilize the US and Iranian Nuclear deal, The talks are set to resume in March

[dexterm]

" On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel "

So, Israel crosses the border and kills some Lebanese. Are they asking for it, or baiting?

My guess is baiting. Hezbolah fires some rockets, which gives Israel an excuse to go all out.

Notice they fired on people in territory it is occupying illegally..incredible hypocrisy and chutzpah. Who's the aggressor?

Par for the course...there's an election scheduled in Israel for this coming March. Netanyahu needs to show he's strong on security, exactly the same as 2009 when they started the war in Gaza...provoke an incident to show you are tough....pathetic.

Israel is a pariah state continuing to go nowhere until it makes its neighbors its friends through a just peace agreement.

Edited January 19, 2015 by dexterm

[ExPratt]

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" On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel "

So, Israel crosses the border and kills some Lebanese. Are they asking for it, or baiting?

My guess is baiting. Hezbolah fires some rockets, which gives Israel an excuse to go all out.

Apparently the missiles are going back to Lebanon as Hezbollahs missiles were stashed in Syria , now Assad is on the way out they are in peril of falling into ISIL hands. Iran are training Hezbollah and Syrian rebel forces to take over when Assad losses power and to thwart ISIL

[Ulysses G.]

I'd say this is also Israel trying to throw as many spanners in the work as possible to destabilize the US and Iranian Nuclear deal, The talks are set to resume in March

Lot of Americans want to stop it too. With Obama in charge, any "deal" is sure to be a loser for Western civilization.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Israel-Netanyahu-Obama-foreign-policy/2014/10/30/id/604155/

Edited January 19, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[ggold]

" On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel "

So, Israel crosses the border and kills some Lebanese. Are they asking for it, or baiting?

My guess is baiting. Hezbolah fires some rockets, which gives Israel an excuse to go all out.

Notice they fired on people in territory it is occupying illegally..incredible hypocrisy and chutzpah. Who's the aggressor?

Par for the course...there's an election scheduled in Israel for this coming March. Netanyahu needs to show he's strong on security, exactly the same as 2009 when they started the war in Gaza...provoke an incident to show you are tough....pathetic.

Israel is a pariah state continuing to go nowhere until it makes its neighbors its friends through a just peace agreement.

Hezbollah are not people they aren't even Syrian! So what were they doing in Syria? I notice Abbas has been giving the elections a helping hand too! I guess he likes dealing with Netanyahu.

As if Israel's neighbours wanted to be friend with Israel! any more jokes please don't keep them to yourself! hahahaha

[Morch]

Until recently there was no need for Israel to act. The Syrian army had the Golan sealed tight against even hezbolah trying to infiltrate into israel from there. Quneitra is vertually no mans land, an area that was controled by the UN until they decided it was too dangerous to stay.

So it's not a question of a nations sovereignty in this case. Simply stopping Terrorists from causing problems, the fact that an Irainian was with them should be more of a worry.

An Iranian with Hezbollah, well who saw that coming?

*posts deleted to allow reply*

More on this:

Iran general died in 'Israeli strike' in Syrian Golan

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30882935

Syria: Israel kills Iran's Revolutionary Guard general Mohammed Allahdadi in Golan Heights strike

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/syria-israel-kills-irans-revolutionary-guard-general-mohammed-allahdadi-killed-golan-heights-1484092

[Morch]

" On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel "

So, Israel crosses the border and kills some Lebanese. Are they asking for it, or baiting?

My guess is baiting. Hezbolah fires some rockets, which gives Israel an excuse to go all out.

The Israeli attack was carried out across the Syrian border (which these days, is a rather abstract concept). The casualties are Lebanese and Iranian. They were not "some Lebanese" but Hezbollah operatives, and the Iranian was a Revolutionary Guards general. One would think that their hanging on Israel's doorstep, not even on their side of the border (as in Lebanon), would be asking for it.

[Morch]

Contempt for other peoples sovereignty is something that is par for the course for the Zionists. That why they are shunned by the International Community and are losing the military and PR war.

If Assad Junior had sovereignty in the area, then the Syrian Army would be the one controlling the area. This is not the case.

What Syrian sovereignty amounts to at this time is not always that clear. Sovereignty usually comes with a certain measure of responsibility for actions taken within one's country. Putting it this way, not sure Assad Junior would be happy to put it on his tab.

[NeverSure]

Contempt for other peoples sovereignty is something that is par for the course for the Zionists. That why they are shunned by the International Community and are losing the military and PR war.

Yeah, the positive PR for Islamists all over Europe and Australia just recently is amazing, innit?

[Morch]

Maybe not such a smart move when IS are massing on the Lebanon border.

One thing about Hezbollah is they don't usually resort to suicide bombing and beheading.

I guess that from Israel's point of view, not much difference between the two, and Hezbollah is a real and active threat as opposed to the potential threat represented by IS.

While Hezbollah is not much into beheading (more a Sunni thing?), it does fancy suicide attacks against choice targets.

[Morch]

I'd say this is also Israel trying to throw as many spanners in the work as possible to destabilize the US and Iranian Nuclear deal, The talks are set to resume in March

How so? Did Israel attack Iran?

Does the Hezbollah enjoy "untouchable" status because of its association with Iran and due to the nuclear negotiations?

[Morch]

" On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel "

So, Israel crosses the border and kills some Lebanese. Are they asking for it, or baiting?

My guess is baiting. Hezbolah fires some rockets, which gives Israel an excuse to go all out.

Notice they fired on people in territory it is occupying illegally..incredible hypocrisy and chutzpah. Who's the aggressor?

Par for the course...there's an election scheduled in Israel for this coming March. Netanyahu needs to show he's strong on security, exactly the same as 2009 when they started the war in Gaza...provoke an incident to show you are tough....pathetic.

Israel is a pariah state continuing to go nowhere until it makes its neighbors its friends through a just peace agreement.

They were firing on "people". Yeah....and who were those people? What nationalities did they hold? What were they up to?

Was there much dismay over Syria recently attacking targets in Iraq?

Syrian aircraft bomb Sunni militant targets inside Iraq

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-aircraft-bomb-sunni-militant-targets-inside-iraq/2014/06/24/2ea61b70-fbdc-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html

Syrian warplanes reportedly strike in Iraq, killing 57 civilians

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/25/world/meast/iraq-crisis/

And once again, could you demonstrate how such military actions actually play out in recent Israeli election campaigns? Were they always beneficial for the ruling party? Anything to support this well thought-through political insight?

Israel is a pariah state in your fantasies, perhaps. Israel got standing long term peace agreements with two of its neighbors. There is no one suggesting that a peace deal with either Syria or Lebanon is even remotely possible under current conditions.

[Morch]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

" On Thursday, however, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, boasted that the group's rockets could hit any part of Israel "

So, Israel crosses the border and kills some Lebanese. Are they asking for it, or baiting?

My guess is baiting. Hezbolah fires some rockets, which gives Israel an excuse to go all out.

Apparently the missiles are going back to Lebanon as Hezbollahs missiles were stashed in Syria , now Assad is on the way out they are in peril of falling into ISIL hands. Iran are training Hezbollah and Syrian rebel forces to take over when Assad losses power and to thwart ISIL

Hezbollah holds an impressive stock of rockets, missiles and other weapons within Lebanon, and this is what Nasrallah was referring to. Previous Israeli strikes on Syria (since the current troubles began) were in attempt to disrupt transfer of higher grade weapon systems to Lebanon. The weapons which could fall into IS (or other Sunni organizations) are those belonging to Assad's forces, not so much Hezbollah's.

[joepublic]

Contempt for other peoples sovereignty is something that is par for the course for the Zionists. That why they are shunned by the International Community and are losing the military and PR war.

Yeah, the positive PR for Islamists all over Europe and Australia just recently is amazing, innit?

You are correct to draw a comparision between the two. Neither accepts international law or accepts another nations sovereignty. The International Community rejects and condemns both Zionists and Islamic Terrorists.

Do you?

Edited January 20, 2015 by joepublic