Hezbollah Stages greatest Maneuvers

Thousands of Hezbollah members staged great military maneuvers without weapons or uniforms near Zionists' border in southern Lebanon.

Al-Akhbar, a pro-Hezbollah newspaper, said on Monday that secretary general of Hezbollah, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah personally supervised the maneuvers, which it reported were carried out in the last three days and were the biggest ever staged on Israel's border by group.

The maneuvers, which have yet to be confirmed, came a few days after Zionist regime held major military exercises in the north of the country near the Lebanese border. Zionists' action was interpreted by some Lebanese media as preparation by Zionist regime for a possible new war with Hezbollah.

Hezbollah's actions could be an attempt to counter Zionist regime's exercises.

Al-Akhbar said the Hezbollah maneuvers were carried out south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon and aimed at "deterring the enemy from carrying out any adventure in Lebanon." The zone has been controlled by a U.N. peacekeeping force and the Lebanese army since last year's war.

Israeli alertness is countered by extraordinary movement by the resistance (Hezbollah)," read a front-page headline Monday in As-Safir, another newspaper close to Hezbollah. It quoted witnesses in southern Lebanon as saying they observed "unusual movement" by Hezbollah for the first time since last year's war.

Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Nasrallah as telling the participants that the maneuvers were intended "for foe and friend to make them understand that the resistance (Hezbollah) is fully ready to confront any kinds of Zionists' threats."

Nasrallah said last week his group has grown stronger since last summer's war as Zionist regime has weakened. He said his movement did not want war but "will not allow anyone to attack our villages, people and country."