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Israel to vanish, says Hezbollah | Israel to vanish, says Hezbollah |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has told thousands of supporters at a rally in Lebanon that the disappearance of Israel is inevitable. | Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has told thousands of supporters at a rally in Lebanon that the disappearance of Israel is inevitable. |
"The presence of Israel is but temporary and cannot go on in the region," he told the Beirut rally. | "The presence of Israel is but temporary and cannot go on in the region," he told the Beirut rally. |
Speaking by video link, he again hinted at revenge for the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Syria. | Speaking by video link, he again hinted at revenge for the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Syria. |
Hezbollah accuses Israel of being behind the death of Imad Mughniyeh, although Israel denies involvement. | Hezbollah accuses Israel of being behind the death of Imad Mughniyeh, although Israel denies involvement. |
Hezbollah - or the Party of God - is a powerful political and military organisation in Lebanon made up mainly of Shia Muslims. | Hezbollah - or the Party of God - is a powerful political and military organisation in Lebanon made up mainly of Shia Muslims. |
'New victory' | 'New victory' |
Mughniyeh died in a car bombing in Damascus on 12 February. He was wanted by the United States and Israel for a series of attacks on Western and Israeli targets in the 1980s and 1990s that left hundreds dead. | Mughniyeh died in a car bombing in Damascus on 12 February. He was wanted by the United States and Israel for a series of attacks on Western and Israeli targets in the 1980s and 1990s that left hundreds dead. |
The rally in a mainly Shia district of southern Beirut was staged to mourn Mughniyeh and remember other militants killed, including Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Abbas al-Musawi, who died in an Israeli helicopter strike in 1992 in southern Lebanon. | The rally in a mainly Shia district of southern Beirut was staged to mourn Mughniyeh and remember other militants killed, including Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Abbas al-Musawi, who died in an Israeli helicopter strike in 1992 in southern Lebanon. |
Hassan Nasrallah addressed supporters via a giant video screen | Hassan Nasrallah addressed supporters via a giant video screen |
"I swear by God that your blood will not have been spilled in vain", Sheikh Nasrallah said in tribute to Mughniyeh. | "I swear by God that your blood will not have been spilled in vain", Sheikh Nasrallah said in tribute to Mughniyeh. |
Sheikh Nasrallah accused Israel of preparing for war against Lebanon, but said Hezbollah would hit back with rocket attacks. | Sheikh Nasrallah accused Israel of preparing for war against Lebanon, but said Hezbollah would hit back with rocket attacks. |
"We are ready for a confrontation and we are ready to defend and ready to create a new victory for us, God willing", he said. | "We are ready for a confrontation and we are ready to defend and ready to create a new victory for us, God willing", he said. |
It is the second time in recent days that Sheikh Nasrallah has threatened Israel. At Mughniyeh's funeral, he warned of "open war". | It is the second time in recent days that Sheikh Nasrallah has threatened Israel. At Mughniyeh's funeral, he warned of "open war". |
Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of others prompted Israel to launch a month-long war in Lebanon in 2006. | Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of others prompted Israel to launch a month-long war in Lebanon in 2006. |
More than 1,000 Lebanese and 160 Israelis died in the conflict. It was described as a grave and serious failure by an Israeli government appointed commission in January. | More than 1,000 Lebanese and 160 Israelis died in the conflict. It was described as a grave and serious failure by an Israeli government appointed commission in January. |
The Hezbollah rally came as Lebanon remains politically deadlocked. | The Hezbollah rally came as Lebanon remains politically deadlocked. |
There have been more than a dozen attempts to elect a president since November, but the governing majority, backed by the West, and the Hezbollah-led opposition have been unable to reach agreement. | There have been more than a dozen attempts to elect a president since November, but the governing majority, backed by the West, and the Hezbollah-led opposition have been unable to reach agreement. |
Parliament is scheduled to reconvene next week in another attempt to choose a head of state. |
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