Lebanon Updates: The May 2008 Conflict - Thursday, May 15, 2008

Lebanon Updates:

The May 2008 Conflict
Hezbollah Shows Might and Limits in Lebanon
Thursday, May 15, 2008

-Map courtesy of UN-

* AP.Google.com brings us this report... Hezbollah has proven it can force Lebanon's U.S.-backed government to cave in on key issues. But the Shiite militant group's power is not absolute — the government is still in place and Hezbollah has lost support among the people by turning its guns on them... The power shift resulted from a week of street battles during which Hezbollah's gunmen and Shiite allies defeated Sunni groups backing the government and seized much of Muslim west Beirut...

Read the rest HERE

* ABS-CBNNews.com reports it this way...

Israel says Hezbollah could have seized power in Lebanon

* CNN.com hast this report today and it starts off like this... Hezbollah militants Thursday began removing street blockades -- one day after the reversal of two Lebanese Cabinet decisions made during the recent factional violence... The Shiite Muslim Hezbollah militia had promised to end its civil disobedience campaign and move toward political solidarity after the Cabinet's announcement... "Beirut is for all. It is not for a party over another and it is not for one group over another," Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general, Sheik Naim Qassem, said on Lebanese television Thursday...

Read the full report at link below...

Hezbollah lifts Beirut street blockades

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-Following links from YaLibnan.com website-
(Warning: Some of the following links have very graphic photos)

-  I Removed 7 links to photos in Respect to Google’s Ad Policies

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AubreyJ.........

Lebanon Updates: The May 2008 Conflict - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Lebanon Updates:The May, 2008 ConflictTuesday, May 13, 2008

-Map courtesy of UN-

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Press Statement by President Bush

Late Monday, May 12, 2008

I strongly condemn Hizballah's recent efforts, and those of their foreign sponsors in Tehran and Damascus, to use violence and intimidation to bend the government and people of Lebanon to their will. The United States will continue to firmly support the Government of Lebanon, led by Prime Minister Siniora, against this effort to undermine the hard-fought gains in sovereignty and independence the Lebanese people have made in recent years. The international community will not allow the Iranian and Syrian regimes, via their proxies, to return Lebanon to foreign domination and control. To ensure the safety and security of the people of Lebanon, the United States will continue its assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure they are able to defend the Lebanese Government and safeguard its institutions.

It is critical that the international community come together to assist the Lebanese people in their hour of need. I plan to consult with regional leaders on my upcoming trip to the Middle East to coordinate efforts to support the Lebanese Government and implement U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701, among others, which seek to bolster Lebanon's sovereignty against external efforts at destabilization and interference. The Lebanese people have sacrificed much for the sake of their freedom, and the United State s will continue to stand with them against this latest assault on their independence and security.

Press statement from: The White House - Office of the Press Secretary

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* Bloomberg.com brings us this report early this Tuesday morning and it starts off like this... Lebanon's army said it would use force to disarm anyone carrying weapons in a bid to quell fighting between gunmen allied with the Hezbollah-led opposition and supporters of pro-Western Prime Minister Fouad Siniora... The military has strengthened its presence in the capital, Beirut, in the mountains and other areas that have witnessed clashes in the past week, Brigadier Saleh Haj Suleiman said in an interview today... “The army will prevent any show of armed individuals and will stop anyone, even if it means the use of force,” he said...

Read this report in full at link below...

Lebanon's Army Vows to End Clashes, Disarm Anyone Carrying Guns

* TheGlobeAndMail.com has this report...

The Hezbollah-led opposition warned yesterday that Lebanon would continue to be racked by violence if Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's Western-backed government didn't agree to its demands and resign. Meanwhile, the Arab League sought to mediate the escalating crisis and a U.S. warship deployed toward the region, as heavy fighting continued for a sixth day...

Hezbollah demands Lebanon's PM resign

* ArabNews.com brings us this early morning, their time report and it starts off like this... Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday warned that Iran’s support for Hezbollah’s “coup” in Lebanon would affect Tehran’s relations with Arab and Islamic countries...

Read the rest at link below...

Hands Off Lebanon, Saud Tells Iran

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-Following links from YaLibnan.com website-

(Warning: Some of the following links have very graphic photos in them)

- I Removed the following 7 Links to Photos in Respect to Google’s Ad Policies

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Lebanese TV Presenter Blasts Opposition Leaders At Shut Down Of Future TV

- This Video removed by me in respect to Google’s Ad Policies

Video posted on LiveLeak by barnesy
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Gang... as American citizens... we really do take for granted so many of our precious freedoms that we have. We really do.

And to me, the above video really brings that very point home...

So I guess if nothing else, our President has gotten one thing... one word right over these last so many years. And that thing, that word would be...
FREEDOM
It truly is such a powerful thing.

Note: I will update with a new post Wednesday.
AubreyJ.........

Lebanon Updates: The May 2008 Conflict - Monday, May 12, 2008

Lebanon Updates:
The May, 2008 Conflict
Monday, May 12, 2008
(This post near top today – Scroll for never post below...)

-Map courtesy of UN-

* ITV.com has this report out this early afternoon and it starts off like this... Lebanon is teetering on the edge of all-out civil war despite a fragile truce between the Hezbollah-led opposition and the US-backed government... At least 36 people were killed in fierce clashes on Sunday between Hezbollah gunmen and supporters of pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt in mountains east of Beirut... More than 80 people have been killed and 250 wounded in violent clashes since last Wednesday and hopes that a political compromise to avert any further escalation in the fighting are slim...
Read the full report at link below...
Hezbollah attacks in Lebanon spur fears of Iran takeover

* VOANews.com reports...
Fighting broke out in northern Lebanon again Monday as politicians wait for an Arab League delegation to arrive to try to broker a settlement between supporters of the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition... Arab League foreign ministers issued a statement Sunday urging a ceasefire between warring Lebanese factions... The delegation is expected to arrive in Lebanon in the coming days. Beirut airport remains closed due to barricades set up by Hezbollah...
Read the rest at link below...
Fighting Rages in Northern Lebanon, Politicians Await Arab League Mediators

* GulfNews.com has this short report...
Lebanese army continues deploying in mountain area

* AFP.com brings us this report late this afternoon and it starts off like this...
US President George W. Bush Monday warned Iran and Syria that the international community would not allow Lebanon to fall under foreign domination again, as he vowed to shore up the Lebanese army... Bush reaffirmed Washington's support for Prime Minister Fuad Siniora amid deadly violence pitting mainly Sunni supporters of the government and militants loyal to the Shiite Hezbollah-led opposition...
Read the full report at link below...
Bush warns Syria, Iran over Lebanon violence

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... -Following links from YaLibnan.com website-

> War in Lebanon Day 6 in Photos
(Warning: Some very graphic photos at above link)

> War in Lebanon Day 5 in Photos
(Warning: Some very graphic photos at above link)

> War in Lebanon Day 4 in Photos
(Warning: Some very graphic photos at above link)

> War in Lebanon Day 3 in Photos
(Warning: Some very graphic photos at above link)

> War in Lebanon Day 2 in Photos
(Warning: Some very graphic photos at above link)

> War in Lebanon Day 1 in Photos
(Warning: Some very graphic photos at above link)
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... -Lebanon Faces Crisis As Hezbollah Fights On-

Video posted on LiveLeak by barnesy

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Note: More updates coming Tuesday in a New Post...
I’ll also post more News/Raw Videos up as I run across them.
AubreyJ.........

Lebanon Updates: The May 2008 Conflict - Saturday, May 10, 2008

Lebanon Updates:
The May, 2008 Conflict
Saturday, May 10, 2008

(This post near top today – Scroll for never post below...)

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-Map courtesy of UN-

I’ll start off today’s post on Lebanon with a statement made by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday...

United States Condemns Violence in Lebanon

Statement by Secretary Condoleezza Rice

Washington, DC
May 9, 2008

The United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Lebanon. We condemn the use of force by illegitimate armed groups and call upon all parties to respect the rule of law.

Backed by Syria and Iran, Hezbollah and its allies are killing and injuring fellow citizens, undermining the legitimate authority of the Lebanese government and the institutions of the Lebanese state.

Seeking to protect their state-within-a-state, Hezbollah has exploited its allies and demonstrated its contempt for its fellow Lebanese. No one has a right to deprive Lebanese citizens of their political and economic freedom, their right to move freely within their country, or their sense of safety and security.

Our support for the legitimate Lebanese government, its democratic institutions, and its security services is unwavering. This support is a reflection of our unshakeable commitment to the Lebanese people and their hope for democratic change, economic prosperity, and confessional harmony.

We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm.

Taken from a press release by DoS

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Travel Warning

United States Department of StateBureau of Consular AffairsWashington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Sat May 10 02:55:52 2008.

LEBANON

April 21, 2008
This Travel Warning updates information on security threats and ongoing political tensions in Lebanon, and informs U.S. citizens of current safety and security concerns. The Department of State continues to strongly urge that Americans defer travel to Lebanon and that American citizens in Lebanon consider carefully the risks of remaining. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Lebanon issued on October 17, 2007.

The U.S. remains concerned about the threat of terrorist attacks against Western and Lebanese government interests in Lebanon. Groups such as Al-Qaeda and Jund al-Sham are present in Lebanon, and they have issued statements calling for attacks against Western interests. The Department of State is also concerned that the clashes between terrorist extremists and the Lebanese Armed Forces that occurred in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon from May to September 2007 could occur in other camps in Lebanon. U.S. citizens who visit refugee camps in Lebanon risk becoming trapped during hostilities.

There have been several assassinations of military and political figures in Lebanon within the past year. On December 12, 2007, a senior member of the Lebanese Armed Forces was killed by a car bomb; a Lebanese Internal Security Force officer was killed in a similar fashion on January 25, 2008. Two anti-Syria Members of Parliament were assassinated in separate car bombings in Beirut in June and September 2007. On January 15, 2008, an Embassy vehicle was damaged and two Embassy employees were injured in yet another bombing. In each of these incidents innocent bystanders have been injured or killed.

On June 7, 2007, a bomb exploded in the town of Zouk Mousbeh, north of Beirut. This followed the discovery of explosive-laden vehicles in Eastern Lebanon. Since May 20 2007, explosions have occurred in the Beirut neighborhoods of Achrafieh and Verdun, the Beirut suburb of Sad Al-Bouchrieh, and the resort town of Aley.

The terrorist group Hizballah has threatened retaliatory actions for the assassination of Hizballah official Imad Fayez Mugniyah, who was killed in Syria by unknown assailants on February 12, 2008. Prominent members of Hizballah have intimated that they hold the United States partially responsible for Mugniyah's death, and it is possible that someone may lash out against U.S. interests or persons.

Read the full Travel Warning at TravelState.gov
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* Economist.com has this article that puts this mess in order... if that’s at all possible....

Moment of truth - An escalation of conflict in Lebanon

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* AFP.Google.com website brings us this news report on Lebanon and it starts off like this...
Lebanon was steeped in tension on Saturday after Hezbollah seized control of west Beirut in three days of deadly fighting with pro-government forces, triggering fears of all-out civil war... At least 16 people were killed in the violence that erupted on Wednesday and quickly escalated after the head of the opposition Shiite Hezbollah movement called a government crackdown on his powerful group a declaration of war...The unrest led to urgent international appeals for calm as Arab foreign ministers prepared to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis on Sunday amid regional Sunni Muslim fears about Shiite Iran's influence in Lebanon...The United States said Hezbollah's actions proved it was a threat to the entire region... "Hezbollah's relationship with Iran and Syria, as well as its history of international terrorism and provision of lethal support and training to Iraqi-based extremist groups, demonstrates the threat it poses to international peace and security," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said on Friday.
Analysts said there were fears the violence could spread beyond Lebanon's borders...
Read the full report at link below...

Tension reigns after three deadly days in Lebanon

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Diplomatic Pressure Mounts On Hezbollah

News Video Posted on LiveLeak by barnesy
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* CNN.com put this report up around 10:00am CDT. It starts off like this... Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused Hezbollah of trying to stage a "militant coup d'etat" on Saturday in his first public comments since violence began three days ago in Beirut... He also called for the army to intervene after Hezbollah militants took control of the Lebanese capital's western suburbs..."I call on it once again to impose security on all, in all areas, deter the gunmen and immediately remove them from the street ... to restore normal life," Siniora said, according to The Associated Press... The Lebanese army, which has its own political factions, did not join the battles that erupted this week... Soldiers instead effectively negotiated a surrender of pro-government positions, Lebanese Internal Security Forces and Western military observers said... But it responded to Siniora's speech by releasing a statement calling on all parties to withdraw their gunmen and reopen roads while offering Hezbollah a compromise, AP reported...
Read this report in full at link below...

PM urges Lebanese army to halt Hezbollah 'coup'

* AP.Goolge.com reports... Lebanon's army command is ordering troops to establish security in the capital and is calling on all parties to withdraw their gunmen from the streets...
Read the rest at link below - Note: Has graphic photos...

Lebanese army command tells gunmen to withdraw from streets

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- Lebanon: Raw News Video -

About News Video: Shows Street Protest in Towns around Lebanon and more
Video posted on LiveLeak by barnesy
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* MonstersAndCritics.com brings us a bit of good news and it goes in part like this... Militants from Lebanon's Shiite Amal movement allied with the militant Hezbollah movement began withdrawing from west Beirut on Saturday after four days of deadly clashes, an official from the opposition said... 'All militants were asked to withdraw from the streets of Beirut,' the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said... A number of militants could be seen withdrawing from the streets of the Lebanese capital. The withdrawal of the gunmen raised hopes for a political settlement after four days of street battles that have left at least 35 dead across Lebanon...
Read the full report at link below...

Militants start to withdraw from west Beirut

* Bloomberg.com has this take...

Hezbollah Pledges to Pull Its Forces Out of Beirut
(Hopefully it will settle down for a while)
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Note: I will update this post as needed today.
I’ll also post more News/Raw Videos as I run across them.
AubreyJ.........

Lebanon Updates: The May 2008 Conflict - Friday, May 09, 2008

Lebanon Updates:
The May, 2008 Conflict
Friday, May 09, 2008

-Map courtesy of UN-

AFP.Google.com brings us this report today and it starts off like this... US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Friday said Washington would provide support to Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora battling a deadly offensive by Hezbollah fighters.. "We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm," Rice said in a statement... Rice repeated the US condemnation of the violence and singled out Syria and Iran for backing Hezbollah...
Read the full report at link below...

US vows to back Lebanese PM amid turmoil

* AFP also has this report...

Lebanon in turmoil as Hezbollah takes west Beirut

*AP.Google.com reports...
Shiite Hezbollah gunmen seized control of key parts of Beirut from Sunnis loyal to the U.S.-backed government Friday, a dramatic show-of-force certain to strengthen the Iranian-allied group's hand as it fights for dominance in Lebanon's political deadlock... An ally of Hezbollah said the group intended to pull back, at least partially, from the areas its gunmen occupied overnight and Friday morning — signaling Hezbollah likely does not intend a full-scale, permanent takeover of Sunni Muslim parts of Beirut, similar to the Hamas takeover of Gaza a year ago... The clashes eased by Friday evening as Lebanon's army began peacefully moving into some areas where Hezbollah gunmen had a presence... But as Hezbollah gunmen celebrated in the capital's empty streets — including marching down Hamra Street, one of its glitziest shopping lanes — it was clear that the show-of-force would have wide implications for Lebanon and the entire Mideast...
Read the full report at link below...
Hezbollah gunmen seize control of Beirut neighborhoods

* Yahoo News has this report today and it starts off like this... Iran on Friday accused the United States and Israel of fueling the deadly sectarian fighting in Lebanon between its Shiite militant Hezbollah ally and the Western-backed ruling majority...
Read the rest at link below...

Iran accuses US, Israel of provoking Lebanon violence
Photo courtesy of IRNA

* Guardian.co.uk reports...European governments today advised their nationals against travel to Lebanon after the Shia militant group Hizbullah seized control of the western half of the capital city, Beirut, this morning...
Read the rest of this short report at link below...

European nations issue Lebanon travel warnings

* IsraelNationalNews.com has this informative report out today on all the mess going on in Lebanon and it starts off like this... With Hamas running Gaza on Israel's south-west border, Fatah attempting to take over Judea and Samaria in eastern Israel, Iranian-backed Hizbullah terrorists and allied pro-Syrian forces are fighting the Lebanese army - and have taken over parts of Beirut... Lebanon has been without a president since November, when the pro-Syrian minority, which includes several Hizbullah ministers, demanded more representation in the Cabinet. The Western-backed government coalition has been struggling for months with the Hizbullah terrorist-led faction to retain control of the country while other Arab nations are eyeing the situation with increasing concern..
Read the full report at link below...
Arab Civil War on Israel's Border: Hizbullah Seizes West Beirut

* YNET.com reports...
Takeover of Muslim parts of Lebanese capital by Hizbullah forces prompts concern among western, Arab leaders. Rice restates US' support for Siniora's government; Egypt and Saudi Arabia call for urgent Arab League summit...
Read the rest at link below...
International alarm at Hizbullah 'coup' in Beirut

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* Hezbollah gaining ground *

About News Video: CNN's Cal Perry reports... Hezbollah forces seized control of half of Beirut... Hezbollah militias assume control of western Beirut
Video posted on LiveLeak by bellava
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Clashes intensify on Beirut streets - 09 May 08

About above video: Aljazeera has this News Video report
Video posted on LiveLeak by Dat1111
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* yalibnan.com brings us this early Saturday morning point WITH PHOTOS...
Hezbollah proved today what the Lebanese have always suspected... and that is... it wants Syria and its president Bashar al Assad back in Lebanon. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words. We will let the pictures speak for themselves, with a little help...
Hezbollah wants Assad back in Lebanon
Also from the yalibnan.com website...
* War in Lebanon Day 3 in Photos

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AubreyJ.........

Lebanon Updates: The May 2008 Conflict - Thursday, May 08, 2008

Lebanon Updates:
The May, 2008 Conflict
Thursday, May 08, 2008

-Map courtesy of UN-

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Bloomberg.com brings us this early Thursday morning report...
Unrest spread across Lebanon as supporters of Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim party and militia, skirmished with armed Sunni Muslim rivals who support the pro-U.S. government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora... Flights in and out of Beirut were canceled for a second day because Hezbollah blocked the main highway from the international airport to downtown with burning tires and rubble. Roads into the city from Damascus and southern Lebanon were similarly obstructed, according to video reports and witnesses... Naharnet, a news Web site, reported clashes in the Bekaa Valley west of Beirut and near Tripoli in the far north. The outbreak of violence has taken a long political standoff in Lebanon to a new, dangerous level, said Oussama Safa, director of Beirut's Lebanese Center for Policy Studies... “Both sides have decided that the stalemate was unacceptable,” he said in a telephone interview. “It will be hard to pull back from this.”...
Read the full report at link below...
Lebanon Unrest Spreads as Hezbollah, Sunnis Clash
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* AfricaAsia.com has this report...
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah accused Lebanon's Western-backed government on Thursday of trying to disarm his Shiite militant movement and said it will use weapons to defend itself...
Read the rest of this short report at link below...
Hezbollah will use weapons to defend itself: Nasrallah
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* yalibnan.com has the transcript, with photos...
Rather than calling for calm, Nasrallah accused the government of seeking to change Beirut airport into a base for the CIA, FBI and Israeli Mossad... “The dark decisions by the black government give us the right to chop off the hand that stretches a hand towards the communications network,” Nasrallah vowed...
Transcript of Nasrallah's Speech can be found at link below...
Nasrallah justifies Lebanon riots [full transcript]
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The yalibnan.com website also has these informative reports/photos...
-Lots of photos in the following links-
* Hezbollah continues to hold Lebanon under siege
* Is this how the next civil war starts in Lebanon?
* Lebanon's dark day in photos
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* Hezbollah Block Airport Access *

News Video posted on Live Leak by barnesy
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* Hezbollah Accused Of Lebanese Takeover *

News Video posted on Live Leak by barnesy
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AubreyJ.........