Guerillas are 'weapon of choice against Israel'

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud says that Lebanon will support its guerrillas as the "weapon of choice" against Israel.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud says that Lebanon will support its guerrillas as the "weapon of choice" against Israel.

On the first anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, Mr Lahoud said they had "vanquished the myth of the army that could not be defeated."

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Due to the volatility of the situation, it behoves us to retain the resistance (guerrillas) and steadfastness as the weapons of choice against Israeli aggression
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Lebanese President Emile Lahoud

The withdrawal of May 24, 2000 is regarded by Lebanese, and many other Arabs, as a victory.

It was the first time Israel had withdrawn from captured territory without a peace agreement.

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Lebanon plans to celebrate the pullout as a national holiday on Friday.

Israel withdrew after a sustained campaign of guerrilla attacks, led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, made its government conclude that the political costs of casualties were too high.

More than 1,000 Israelis were killed in the Lebanese conflict.

However, Hezbollah guerrillas continue to attack Israeli troops at Chebaa Farms, a tiny parcel of land on the Israeli side of the fence that Lebanon claims as its own.

"Due to the volatility of the situation, it behoves us to retain the resistance (guerrillas) and steadfastness as the weapons of choice against Israeli aggression," Mr Lahoud said.

The president touched on fears of renewed conflict that have engulfed Lebanon in recent weeks. Israel has threatened to strike Syrian forces in Lebanon if Hezbollah attacks Israeli troops and Syria has warned Israel it will not be intimidated.

PA