‘LEBANESE ARMY WILL FIGHT ALONGSIDE HEZBOLLAH IN A WAR WITH ISRAEL':

Posted on Mar 9, 2017

 Since the Second Lebanese War between Israel and the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah in 2006, the Lebanese army has rearmed itself, strengthening its ability in the air as well as on the ground and sea, with the help of the United States, France and Saudi Arabia. In the past two years, a new challenge has risen on the northern front. Should Israel go to war with Hezbollah, the Lebanese army would fight on the Shi’ite terrorist organization’s side, Israeli security officials said on Friday, 3 March 2017. According to the officials, unlike Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, a future war would feature the Lebanese Armed Forces on Hezbollah’s side. The army had originally rearmed itself in order to deal with internal terrorism, however they also strengthened their ability to fight an army such as the IDF. While the army may not have specifically advanced weaponry, they do currently have more ability than before to fight the IDF, including more precise anti-tank rockets. The strengthening came from the army’s rearming as well as its commander- in-chief, Michel Naim Aoun and Hezbollah.” Aoun, 82 years old, was once a Lebanese Armed Forces officer, and in the 1980s was an ally to Israel. He has since changed his views, winning wider support and taking Lebanon’s presidential office in October 2016. In an interview with Egyptian TV two weeks ago, Aoun hinted that Hezbollah and the Lebanese Armed Forces are working side-by-side. "The Lebanese army is not strong enough to fight Israel face-to-face,” he stated. "Because of that, Hezbollah is necessary. There is no contradiction between them." (J.Post)