Report: Hezbollah Deploying for War on Israel’s Borders
As US sanctions force Iran to reduce its financial support for Hezbollah, the terrorist group is reportedly deploying forces along the Lebanese and Syrian borders, ready to initiate hostilities at Tehran’s behest
IsraelDefense
| 21/07/2019
Hezbollah fighters take part in a rally in Beirut (Photo: AP)
Hezbollah has reportedly bolstered its forces along Israel’s border with both Lebanon and Syria in preparation for an imminent war with the Jewish state.
Officers in the Iranian-backed terrorist organization told The Daily Beast that the growing pressure from US sanctions on Tehran might lead soon to a direct conflict against the US ally.
“The sanctions now have us preparing for dealing with the Israeli front,” said “Samir,” a Hezbollah officer commanding 800 fighters on Lebanon’s border with Israel. He declines to use his real name because he is not authorized to speak to the media. “We will fire the first shot this time,” he says.
According to Samir, the US sanctions are crippling the Iranian economy and forcing a large reduction in Tehran’s financial support for Hezbollah. Salaries for Hezbollah fighters have been halved, according to the three fighters who spoke with The Daily Beast.
The officer boasted that Hezbollah has new drone capabilities as well as new anti-aircraft and anti-naval weapons acquired in Syria alongside a more seasoned fighting force.
“Our wish before the war in Syria was to go and open a front in the Golan but [the Syrian Government] set a red line,” the commander says, referring to the limitations set by the Assad regime on Hezbollah activity in its territory. “Now there are no red lines,” he said. According to him, the next war will be nothing like those that came before.
A veteran Hezbollah fighter identified as “Assir” noted that many Hezbollah fighters returning from the conflict in Syria were being sent to the Israeli border.
“People who finish their mission in Syria go to the south,” he said. “There are some units in Syria but a lot go back to Lebanon or to the Golan. Thousands have come back.”
As US sanctions force Iran to reduce its financial support for Hezbollah, the terrorist group is reportedly deploying forces along the Lebanese and Syrian borders, ready to initiate hostilities at Tehran’s behest
Hezbollah fighters take part in a rally in Beirut (Photo: AP)
Hezbollah has reportedly bolstered its forces along Israel’s border with both Lebanon and Syria in preparation for an imminent war with the Jewish state.
Officers in the Iranian-backed terrorist organization told The Daily Beast that the growing pressure from US sanctions on Tehran might lead soon to a direct conflict against the US ally.
“The sanctions now have us preparing for dealing with the Israeli front,” said “Samir,” a Hezbollah officer commanding 800 fighters on Lebanon’s border with Israel. He declines to use his real name because he is not authorized to speak to the media. “We will fire the first shot this time,” he says.
According to Samir, the US sanctions are crippling the Iranian economy and forcing a large reduction in Tehran’s financial support for Hezbollah. Salaries for Hezbollah fighters have been halved, according to the three fighters who spoke with The Daily Beast.
The officer boasted that Hezbollah has new drone capabilities as well as new anti-aircraft and anti-naval weapons acquired in Syria alongside a more seasoned fighting force.
“Our wish before the war in Syria was to go and open a front in the Golan but [the Syrian Government] set a red line,” the commander says, referring to the limitations set by the Assad regime on Hezbollah activity in its territory. “Now there are no red lines,” he said. According to him, the next war will be nothing like those that came before.
A veteran Hezbollah fighter identified as “Assir” noted that many Hezbollah fighters returning from the conflict in Syria were being sent to the Israeli border.
“People who finish their mission in Syria go to the south,” he said. “There are some units in Syria but a lot go back to Lebanon or to the Golan. Thousands have come back.”
