(Asharq Alawsat-UK) Amir Taheri - In the next few weeks the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is expected to reveal the names of nine members of Lebanese Hizbullah who participated in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hizbullah is known for its iron discipline and highly centralized decision-making. It also has a seasoned intelligence service trained and supported by Iran. If someone high-level in Hizbullah knew of the plot, is it possible that Tehran was not informed? Would it go for such a high-risk operation without obtaining at least a nod from the "mother country"? Judging by a series of recent statements from senior Iranian figures, the answer must be no. Here is Maj.-Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi: "Those who criticize our support for Hizbullah and Hamas do not understand what is at stake. We support [those movements] because they represent the first line of our own defense. They are fighting for our safety and security and the triumph of our revolution." Gen. Firouzabadi is Chief of Staff of the Iran's armed forces and a member of the High Council of National Security that ultimately sets the strategy for foreign radical groups supported by Iran. Awaz Heydarpour, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly's security commission in Tehran, added: "Wherever there is Hizbullah there is Iran. Our revolutionary movement is not limited by borders."
2010-08-16 09:29:07Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive