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Iran Just Lost Its Last Colonial Settlement in Southern Lebanon

(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Lenny Ben-David - The Shiite town of Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, near the Israeli communities of Avivim and Yiron, includes "Iran Park" - dedicated to Hizbullah martyrs and to Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. A statue of Soleimani pointing at Israel one km. away stood atop an observation tower. The park also included a replica of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, a museum, an obstacle course, a playground, picnic grounds, and a paintball course. The Dome of the Rock replica is unusual since the original sanctuary in Jerusalem is a Sunni shrine. The 5,000 Lebanese residents of Maroun al-Ras proudly accepted their role as Iran's colonial subjects. Iranian and Hizbullah flags prominently flew over Maroun al-Ras and the Iran Park, and loudspeakers blared the Hizbullah and Iranian anthems. In October 2010, Iranian President Ahmadinejad visited Maroun al-Ras to dedicate the Iran Park. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited Maroun al-Ras on April 26, 2023. On May 15, 2011, tens of thousands of Palestinians arrived in 1,000 buses at Maroun al-Ras's Iran Park to "March to Palestine." IDF snipers were forced to repel the mobs. During Israel's recent operation in southern Lebanon, the Iran Park in Maroun al-Ras was destroyed. This post includes numerous photos of the area. The writer is a Research and Diplomacy Fellow at the Jerusalem Center.
2024-12-17 00:00:00
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