Hezbollah

Syrians Defend U.S. Embassy from Terrorist Attack
Despite increasingly strained relations stemming from the recent Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, Syrian security forces repelled an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Damascus.

Israel Accused Over Lebanon War Claims
· Human rights report tells of indiscriminate firing· Claim that Hizbullah hid behind civilians rejected

Israel Accused of Indiscriminate Attacks During Lebanon War
Israel was accused today of firing indiscriminately during last year's war in Lebanon in a report by Human Rights Watch that challenged the country's claim that the high number of civilian casualties resulted from the militant group Hizbullah deliberately shielding itself among the Lebanese population.

Lebanon War Was a Success, Says Olmert
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, toured his country's border with Lebanon yesterday and declared last year's war with Hizbullah a success.

A Son Waits to Join Hizbullah to Avenge Shattered Family
The Cheaitos family, like others in the village of Tiri, just across a range of hills from the Israeli border, are still learning to live with their wounds from the war.

Key Mistakes Made After Hizbullah Captured Soldiers
The report of the Winograd commission began with the decisions made in launching the war: "We determine that there are very serious failings in these decisions and the way they were made."

Israel Counts the Cost of War
Israel is still counting the cost of last summer's war against Hizbullah in Lebanon, though the final balance may not be entirely disadvantageous. By Simon Tisdall

US Studies Israel's Cluster Bomb Use in Lebanon
Israel may have violated agreements with Washington on the use of US-made cluster bombs in its war with Hizbullah in Lebanon last summer, the state department said today.

Donors Pledge £2.3bn to Lebanon
International donors today pledged $4.6bn (£2.34bn) in aid and loans for Lebanese reconstruction following last summer's war between Hizbullah guerrillas and Israel.

The Jews and Europe
The 2006 war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, brought to the fore something that was supposed to have ended long ago

A Not-so-special Relationship
When Ségolène Royal met a Hizbullah MP in Beirut last month, her relatively limited experience of foreign affairs almost caused an international incident. By Simon Tisdall

Lebanon Crisis Grows As Sixth Minister Quits
Lebanon's political disarray deepened today as the last minister allied to the pro-Syrian Hizbullah movement resigned from the cabinet.

Olmert Hardens Stance on Iran
Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, arrived in Washington yesterday to rally opposition to Iran's nuclear programme as the repercussions of Israel's war against Hizbullah continued in Tel Aviv.

Nasrallah Confirms Israel Prisoner Talks
Hizbullah leader says 'serious' indirect negotiations over possible prisoner exchange are under way as an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip kills six Palestinians.

Israel Admits It Used Phosphorus Weapons
· Minister says shells hit Hizbullah targets · MP shocked by deployment in war

Hizbullah Accused of Using Cluster Bombs
Hizbullah was accused of firing cluster bombs into civilian areas of northern Israel in a statement by Human Rights Watch today.

Hizbullah 'used Cluster Bombs'
Hizbullah fired cluster bombs into civilian areas of northern Israel in the recent conflict, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.

Hizbullah Representatives on the Group's Interest in Parks and Pollution
After Hizbullah's 34-day war with Israel, Erlend Clouston tracks down its representatives and finds them keen to talk about parks and pollution.

Hamas and Hizbullah Would Ruin Arab Peace Plan, Says Peres
· Israeli vice-premier casts doubt on latest initiative · Public opinion 'stopping plan to close settlements'

We Still Have 20,000 Rockets, Says Nasrallah
· Hizbullah leader emerges for first time since war · Hundreds of thousands in Beirut for speech

Hizbullah Celebrates 'victory'
The Hizbullah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, today marked what he called the group's "divine" victory over Israel with a vow never to surrender its weapons.

Israel Blames Map Error for Un Deaths in Bombing
The Israeli military yesterday blamed 'human error' made during the duplication of maps for the bombing of a UN post in southern Lebanon in July, in which four unarmed international observers were killed during the conflict with Hizbullah.

Amnesty Report Accuses Hizbullah of War Crimes
Hizbullah militants broke international humanitarian law during the recent conflict with Israel, an Amnesty International report concluded today.

Israel Tests Ceasefire With Lebanon Arrests
Israeli troops in southern Lebanon detained four men yesterday for questioning in what appeared to be the first arrests since a ceasefire ended the war with Hizbullah.

War Fails to Dim Hizbullah's Beacon
Terror group's scatterred journalists feed stories through hidden studios.

Lebanon Asks for $500m to Help Build Homes and Clear Bombs
Lebanon's prime minister appealed yesterday for $500m (£263m) in aid after "15 years of postwar development" were wiped out by Israeli bombs in a month of fighting with Hizbullah guerrillas.

Italy Delivers on Aim to Be Go-between
In the past month, the Italian government has taken a lead, along with France, in ending the Israeli-Lebanon war and emerged as a potential player in the behind-the-scenes talks to free the two Israeli soldiers whose capture by Hizbullah started the conflict.

Hizbullah Leader: We Regret the Two Kidnappings That Led to War With Israel
Hizbullah admits it would not have captured the two Israeli soldiers last month had it known a war would follow.

Hizbullah: New Heroes on the Palestinian Street
In the West Bank, the Lebanese militia has become an inspiration to Palestinians and a source of profound concern in the Israeli cabinet, reports Rory McCarthy from Ramallah

Majority of Israelis 'want Olmert to Go'
The Israeli government came under increased pressure today with the publication of a newspaper poll showing that for the first time a majority want Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign over perceived failings in his handling of the war with Hizbullah.

Pressure on Olmert As Poll Shows Israelis Want Him to Quit Over Lebanon 'failure'
Pressure mounted on the Israeli government last night after a newspaper poll showed for the first time that a majority want Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign over perceived failures in his handling of the war with Hizbullah.

Rifts Over Hizbullah Form Lebanon's New Green Line
Only in Beirut do war scars and champagne chic blend so easily. In Achrafiye, an upmarket district of hip restaurants and nightclubs where a bottle of bubbly can cost $1,000, a ravaged building totters over a street corner.

Israeli Troops Shoot Two Hizbullah Fighters
Israeli troops in southern Lebanon today shot two Hizbullah guerrillas, the Israeli army said, in the latest clash to put pressure on the fragile ceasefire.

Israel Asks Italy to Lead Un Peacekeeping Force and Defies Raid Criticism
Israel warned yesterday that it would continue covert raids in Lebanon despite a UN-brokered ceasefire, insisting it had the right to stop Hizbullah rearming in advance of the arrival of UN peacekeepers.

More Raids Threatened Until Un Peacekeepers Take Control
Israel warned yesterday that it would continue covert raids in Lebanon despite a UN-brokered ceasefire, insisting it had the right to stop Hizbullah rearming in advance of the arrival of UN peacekeepers.

Army Raid in Bekaa 'breaks' Ceasefire
Lebanese Defence Minister threatens to halt deployment of troops in former Hizbollah areas.

Lebanon Aid Appeals: Where You Can Donate
A fragile truce is holding in southern Lebanon after a month of conflict between Israel and Hizbullah fighters.

Hizbullah Fighters Go to Ground As Lebanese Army Rolls Into the South
· Israel transfers control of half of captured territory · Disarming rebels likely to be sticking point

After 34 Days of War, Hizbullah Turns Its Attention to Rebuilding Southern Lebanon
· 15,000 families promised year's rent and furniture · Iran to fund estimated $150m reconstruction

Hizbullah Has Achieved What Arab States Only Dreamed of
The sixth Arab-Israeli war, as some have called it, has ended in the first real setback for Israel's deterrent power. By David Hirst

The Round Table: Fair Negotiations in the Middle East
If we refuse to negotiate in good faith with Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the insurgents and militias in Iraq, and the Ayatollahs in Iran, we will leave no options but continued and escalating violence.

Israel's Bill Put at $1.6bn, But Growth Barely Affected
Israel's month-long war against Hizbullah has cost the country $1.6bn (£850m), or about 1% of GDP, according to initial government estimates.

Hizbullah Leader Claims Victory
The leader of Hizbullah, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, tonight claimed a "strategic and historic victory" over Israel as the first day of a ceasefire in the Middle East crisis brought a seemingly fragile calm following a month of fighting.

Nasrallah Taunts Israel and Claims Victory
The Hizbullah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, taunted Israeli soldiers as 'cowards' and claimed a 'strategic and historic victory' as a truce took hold last night after 32 days of intense bombing that has brought Lebanon to its knees.

Ceasefire Holds As Olmert Admits Tactical Deficiencies
Israeli PM promises inquiry but claims Hizbullah is crippled.

Cautious Hope As Ceasefire Begins
A fragile, UN-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah fighters began today after a month of conflict which has killed more than 1,000 people.

Beirut Bombarded Hours Before Start of Ceasefire
· Bombs aimed at Hizbullah leadership in suburb · Northern Israel hit by barrage of 250 rockets

Bush 'helped Israeli Attack on Lebanon'
American and Israeli officials met in the spring, discussing plans on how to tackle Hizbullah, according to a new report.

Fragile Ceasefire in Danger Amid Ferocious Fighting
Lebanon staggered towards a UN ceasefire deadline set for this morning with a ferocious increase in fighting between Israel and Hizbullah and little sign that peace was at hand.

Resistance Agrees Truce, Can It Now Resist a Fight?
Twenty-four hours ahead of the Israeli cabinet's meeting to approve a ceasefire in the four-week-old war with Hizbullah, the Lebanese Shia organisation declared itself ready to abide by a truce, but with conditions.

On the Border, Israeli Tanks Struggle for Control
Hizbullah fighters remain within a mile of the Israeli town, firing mortars and rockets and resisting the full might of the strongest army in the Middle East.

UN Says 'peace Tomorrow' Despite Israeli Attack
Israel dramatically defied a unanimous United Nations Security Council ceasefire resolution by escalating its ground war yesterday in southern Lebanon, asserting that it needed more time to 'clean up' Hizbollah.

Israel Defies Un in Massive Assault on Lebanon
Israel dramatically defied a unanimous United Nations Security Council ceasefire resolution by escalating its ground war in southern Lebanon, asserting that it needed more time to 'clean up' Hizbollah.

Nobody's Victory, But in the End Israel Could Not Defeat Hizbollah
A month of fighting, more than 1,000 dead, upwards of 800,000 Lebanese displaced and $2bn worth of damage - for what? Who wins in this bloody debacle, assuming it is coming to an end? By Peter Beaumont

14 Die As Bombardment Goes on Across Lebanon
Israeli warplanes and artillery continued to bombard Lebanon yesterday, from the southern border to the far north of the country, killing at least 14 people. Hizbullah, meanwhile, said it fired 150 rockets into Israel, although Israeli rescue officials put the total at about 80.

Computerised Weaponry and High Morale
Israeli forces have been astonished at the discovery of networks of bunkers and computerised weapons in Hizbullah positions, according to officials.

Israel, Hizbullah a Disgrace, Says Un As Aid is Blocked
Fighting goes on as 120,000 are left stranded in Lebanon.

Rising Casualties and Criticism of the Army
Israeli troops reportedly took some of their worst casualties of the war so far yesterday while Hizbullah succeeded in launching more than 160 rockets from southern Lebanon.

13 Dead in Strikes on Lebanese Town
At least 13 people were killed in an air attack on a southern Lebanese town today as heavy ground fighting between Israeli troops and Hizbullah guerrillas continued and UN diplomats struggled to stop a US-French peace plan from collapsing.

Hizbullah Rockets Bring Panic, Death and Destruction to the Arab Quarter
It was not the first air raid siren of the day and the residents of the old Arab quarter of the Israeli city of Haifa knew well enough that it heralded another barrage of Hizbullah rockets launched from southern Lebanon.

Israel Responded to an Unprovoked Attack By Hizbullah, Right? Wrong
The assault on Lebanon was premeditated - the soldiers' capture simply provided the excuse. It was also unnecessary. By George Monbiot

Israel's Bloodiest Day Yet As Hizbullah Hits Troops and Haifa
Strike on northern kibbutz results in biggest death toll.

Lebanon Rejects Un Truce Proposal Which It Claims Favours Israel
Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, piled pressure on Hizbullah to comply with the proposed UN call for a truce yesterday, reiterating Washington's insistence that a cessation of hostilities would be the first step towards a longer-term settlement.

UN General Warns Against 'iraq Situation'
Any attempt to deploy international troops to disarm Hizbullah by force would turn Lebanon into another Iraq, according to the head of Unifil, the UN's monitoring mission in Lebanon.

Militants Merge With Mainstream
· Hizbullah emerges as symbol of resistance · Anger at Israel's actions unites Shias and Sunnis

Hizbullah and Israel Threaten to Escalate War
Preparations for attack on Beirut met with promise to fire on Tel Aviv.

Israel Extends Lebanon Occupation Plan
· Minister: prepare for push to Litani river · Hizbullah fires 100 rockets into Israel

Olmert Declares the Enemy Tamed But Rockets Keep Pounding Villages
Israel suffered its worst day of the Middle East conflict yesterday, despite government assertions that a three-week bombing campaign and mounting ground operations had severely damaged the Hizbullah militia.

Israeli Military Accused of Whitewash
An Israeli military investigation into the Qana bombing, which killed at least 28 people, yesterday found that the air force did not know there were civilians in the building and blamed Hizbullah for using 'human shields.'

Arab Despots, Not Israel, Are Now Under a Greater Threat
Hizbullah's resistance to the region's military superpower will cause tremors in Egypt and Jordan - and even Syria. By Jonathan Steele

Hizbullah Rockets Threaten West Bank As Israeli Troops Pour Into Lebanon
· Fighters launch barrage of longer-range missiles · Olmert claims enemy has been largely disarmed

Israel Steps Up Offensive
· 20 Hizbullah guerrillas killed · Israeli cabinet approves troops' advance

No Turning Back in Pursuit of Hizbullah
· Leaders see sweeping land offensive as only option · Hawks heap pressure on Olmert for bolder action

Forgotten Army Sides With Hizbullah
"Any Hizbullah in the town?" I asked the Lebanese soldier who had hitched a lift outside this mixed Christian and Shia area just five miles north of the Israeli border. "A few," he replied, as his right eye creased into a cheerful wink.

Syria Stands to Gain From Lebanon's Pain
Hizbullah's stock is rising among the Arab public, and the Syrian regime is making the most of it, reports Brian Whitaker from Damascus.

Kidnapping Did Not Start War, Says Israeli Father
Relatives of one of the Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hizbullah today said his kidnapping was not the catalyst for the Middle East conflict.

Fresh Ground Assault on Hizbullah Villages
Israeli troops backed by dozens of tanks launched a new ground operation in southern Lebanon yesterday under the cover of a massive wave of artillery.

Israelis Withdraw From Hizbollah Border Stronghold
Israeli forces pulled out of the Lebanese border town of Bint Jbeil yesterday on the 18th day of the Middle East crisis.

The Silent Minority
Overwhelming public support for attacks on Hizbullah has muted Israeli protests against the war in Lebanon, reports Ian Black from Jerusalem

EU Denies Giving Israel Green Light
· Israel calls up reserves · Hizbullah fires 150+ rockets ·Blair will meet Bush on Friday

Only Hizbullah Can Defend Against an Israeli Invasion
Attempts to impose an international force would risk destroying Lebanon's government and revive the danger of civil war. By Jonathan Steele

Pushing for a Ceasefire From Behind a Barrage of Katyushas
Hizbullah wants an immediate ceasefire and is ready to swap the two abducted Israeli soldiers "in six hours" after it comes into force, according to officials from Amal, a Shia party allied to Hizbullah.

A Wary Defiance in the Village Hizbullah's Leader Calls Home
Bazuriyah, three miles (5km) east of Tyre, merits special attention: the village is the home of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hizbullah. After two weeks under Israeli air strikes, most of Bazuriyah's 12,000 residents have fled. But those left are fierce in their allegiance.

Tying the Hands of the United Nations
In the week preceding Hizbullah's July 12 cross-border raid into Israel that sparked the Lebanon war, the UN security council was wrestling with a draft resolution on Gaza. By Simon Tisdall

Limited Cast List Spells Doom for Peace Process
The US has won more time for Israel to continue its military offensive, but any peace deal that ignores Hizbullah and its supporters will fail, writes Ewen MacAskill.

Diplomats Fail to Urge Immediate Ceasefire
Urgent talks by senior US, European and Arab officials in Rome ended today without agreement on calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah militants.

The Summit Fails. War Rages
· 13 IDF soldiers killed · Surprise at Hizbullah strength · US - UK block ceasefire move

Fighting Rages in South Lebanon As Civilian Toll Mounts
Israeli warplanes killed at least 11 more Lebanese civilians today, reports said, while Israeli forces on the ground in southern Lebanon claimed to have killed between 20 and 30 Hizbullah militants.

Syria 'must Be Blocked From Supplying Weapons to Hizbullah'
Israel is demanding that any peace deal with Lebanon includes agreement on international control or monitoring of the country's border crossings with Syria to block the delivery of weapons to Hizbullah fighters.

Israel Says Any Deal Must Include Block on Syria Supplying Arms to Hizbullah
Israel is demanding that any peace deal with Lebanon includes agreement on international control or monitoring of the country's border crossings with Syria to block the delivery of weapons to Hizbullah fighters.

We Are Defending Our Sovereignty
Ali Fayyad, a senior member of Hizbullah's executive committee, on why the current conflict in the Middle East can be seen as a bid to crush legitimate resistance to occupation and aggression.

Two Killed As More Hizbullah Rockets Strike Haifa
A wave of Hizbullah rockets hit the northern Israeli city of Haifa yesterday, killing two people and injuring about 50 others. One man died when a rocket struck the car he was driving. A second person was killed inside a building.

Massive Firepower to Back Ground Assault
Israeli forces appear ready to launch significant ground operations in the Tyre area of south Lebanon from which Hizbullah fighters continued to launch rocket salvoes against northern Israel yesterday.

Charismatic Leader Who Triggered Crisis
Even his most severe Lebanese opponents recognise Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the undisputed leader of the Shia movement Hizbullah, as the country's most charismatic politician.

Israel Gears Up for Ground War
The Lebanon crisis entered a dangerous new phase last night as Israeli troops and tanks massed on the border in preparation for a sweeping ground operation against Hizbullah fighters.

Army Weighs Likely Cost of Major Ground Fighting to Crush Hizbullah
When elite Israeli troops crossed into Lebanon to clear booby-trapped Hizbullah positions along the border this week, they expected little resistance. Instead, they found fighters waiting for them with mortars and anti-tank weapons.

Hizbullah's Undisputed Commander
Even his most severe Lebanese opponents recognise Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the undisputed leader of the Shia movement Hizbullah, as the country's most charismatic politician.

Bombed Out Buildings and Packed Out Bars - a Tale of Two Beiruts
· Many wealthy Christians angry towards Hizbullah · But group's resistance has attracted new supporters

Israel Prepares for Ground Attack
The Lebanon crisis entered a dangerous new phase last night as Israeli troops and tanks massed on the border in preparation for a sweeping ground operation against Hizbullah fighters.

TV War Correspondents Rescued From Angry Mob By Hizbullah
Two British journalists were recovering in Beirut last night after being attacked by a mob which surrounded their car for almost an hour, smashing windows and trying to force them out.

'Hizbullah Does More for Us Than Any Arab Government'
Jonathan Steele reports from the Sabra and Shatila camps on enduring support for Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah.

Israeli Military Chiefs Warn of Long Haul in Lebanon
Military analysts in Israel have begun to question whether the nine-day intense bombardment of Hizbullah positions in Lebanon is achieving its stated aim of destroying the militia's capabilities.

'Hizbullah is Doing More for Our Cause Than Any Arab Government Has Ever Done'
His face smiles from posters all over Sabra and Shatila camp, the once world-famous home of 12,000 Palestinian refugees in Beirut, and finding anyone willing to criticise Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon's Shia militia, is a hopeless venture.

Analaysts Say Israel Has Not Seriously Damaged Hizbullah
Military analysts in Israel have begun to question whether the nine-day intense bombardment of Hizbullah positions in Lebanon is achieving its stated aim of destroying the militia's capabilities.

Iranian Intervention Revives an Ancient Enmity
Pro-western Arab governments have sharply criticised Hizbullah for provoking Israel's onslaught on Lebanon. Their stand has come as a welcome surprise to Israel and its US backers. By Simon Tisdall

How Could Both Sides Have Blundered So Badly?
Miscalculations by Israel and Hizbullah have weakened Lebanon's fragile unity. A ceasefire is needed immediately. By Jonathan Steele

Strike on Bunker Failed, Says Hizbullah
Israeli jets bombed Beirut last night in an apparently vain effort to decapitate the Hizbullah leadership, after at least 63 Lebanese civilians died under air strikes and artillery fire on the deadliest day since the Israeli assault began.

Standing Firm
Standing up to Hizbollah in Lebanon will help us in our nuclear negotiations with Iran, says Ed Vaizey.

Crossing Borders
Hizbullah's attacks on Israel may be an appeal to a sense of Arab pride, writes David Fickling.

Widespread Support for War Among Israeli Public
Israel's military operations against Hizbullah have broad support from across the country's political spectrum with 86% of the population backing the action, according to a poll in yesterday's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

The Military Push to Force Back Hizbullah Goes On. But Soon the Talking Must Start
· Fighting will end within weeks, says general · Experts say buffer zone will require negotiations

United States to Israel: You Have One More Week to Blast Hizbullah
Bush 'gave green light' for limited attack, say Israeli and UK sources.

Rice Will Back Demands for Ceasefire - After a Few More Days of Carnage
The US game plan for Lebanon, if game plan is not too distasteful a word amid such daily carnage, is becoming clear: Israel has a few more days, possibly up to a week, to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah. By Simon Tisdall

40 Dead in Lebanon Strikes
· More Hizbullah rockets hit Haifa · Blair leads calls for UN peace force · 40 British nationals evacuated

Bush Slip Puts Pressure on Syria
As diplomatic efforts today centred on sending an international force to southern Lebanon, unguarded comments by President Bush revealed his immediate focus was getting Syria to halt Hizbullah actions.

Streets Empty As Civilians in Missile Range Hunker Down
Hizbullah poured more than 50 rockets into northern Israel yesterday, hitting a house in Safed, another in Akko and a three-storey apartment block in Haifa, injuring 11 as it collapsed.

Tehran Benefits But Role Still Unproven
For a suspected nerve centre in a crisis that threatens to convulse the Middle East, the Tehran headquarters of Hizbullah displays a striking lack of grandeur.

Israeli Air Strikes Kill 19
Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon kill at least 19 people after a Hizbollah rocket attack killed eight in Haifa.

Israeli City Shaken By Hizbullah Rocket Attack
· Eight die, many injured in strike on Haifa rail depot · Safety fears close schools, shops and factories

Cleric Who Commands Militia
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is a Shia Muslim cleric who for the past 14 years has led the Lebanese militia group Hizbullah.

A Competent Military Force That Should Not Be Underestimated, Experts Say
Hizbullah will not only take war to Haifa, but "beyond Haifa, and beyond beyond Haifa", its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said in a televised speech last week - and some experts are prepared to believe him.

Children Die in Convoy Attack As Israel Widens Lebanon Assault
Israel steeply escalated its military campaign against Hizbollah in Lebanon yesterday with a series of air strikes that left more than 35 civilians dead, including a single strike on a convoy of families fleeing the fighting in a village near Tyre in the south of the country that killed more than 20 people, most of them children.

Hizbullah Leader: 'you Wanted Open War. We Are Ready for an Open War'
Hizbullah threatens 'open war' as Israel ramps up its attacks on Lebanon.

Death Toll Climbs in Fresh Wave of Attacks
Beirut's international airport was hit by renewed bombing this morning as fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hizbullah guerrillas continued into a third day.

Hizbullah Hq Destroyed in Israeli Attacks
Israeli warplanes today destroyed the headquarters of Hizbullah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, as the attacks on Lebanon intensified.

A New War, But Both Sides Recall Old Ones
Exodus from Beirut as Israel tightens vice and vows to disarm Hizbullah.

Israel: We Will Attack 'till Hizbullah is Destroyed'
Israel ramped up its military strikes against Lebanon yesterday, bombing roads and bridges in the heart of Beirut and warning that the fight would last until the Hizbullah militia was destroyed.

Death Toll Climbs As Shelling Continues
Beirut's international airport was hit with renewed shelling this morning as fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hizbullah guerrillas continued into a bloody third day.

Explainer: Hizbullah
Hizbullah had previously threatened to capture Israeli soldiers, but it had limited its attacks to shelling across the border. Yesterday's strike marked the Islamic militia's biggest operation since 2000, when Israel ended its military occupation of southern Lebanon.

Beirut Under Siege As Israel Attacks From Air and Sea
· Israel lays siege to Beirut by air and sea · At least 50 killed in Lebanon assault · Hizbullah rockets hit Haifa

Bush's Indifference Drives Conflict
Israel's assault on Lebanon, following Hizbullah's cross-border raid on Wednesday and weeks of unremitting bloodshed in Gaza, brought demands yesterday for international action to contain the crisis and mediate an end to the fighting. By Simon Tisdall

Israel Attacks Beirut Airport
Israel widened its offensive against Hizbullah guerrillas today, targeting the country's only international airport and forcing its closure, and shelling southern Lebanon in what appeared to be Israel's fiercest military campaign against Lebanon since the 1982 invasion.

Hizbullah
Hizbullah had previously threatened to capture Israeli soldiers, but it had limited its attacks to shelling across the border. Yesterday's strike marked the Islamic militia's biggest operation since 2000, when Israel ended its military occupation of southern Lebanon.

Capture of Soldiers Was 'act of War' Says Israel
Israel threatened to bomb Lebanon 'back 20 years' yesterday as it launched a ground and air assault after Hizbullah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed others.

Israeli Army Enters Lebanon
· Two soldiers reported kidnapped by Hizbullah · Gaza bomb kills nine overnight
· Palestinian president 'threatens to quit'

Disarming Questions
Five years after Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon, it is unclear which path Hizbullah will follow, writes Rory McCarthy.

UK's Iraq Forces Face Hizbullah-style Roadside Bombs
· Infra-red devices almost impossible to detect · Weapons pierce vehicles' armoured protection

From Conflict to Politics
As Hamas and Hizbullah find success at the ballot box, strident calls are heard for them to disarm. This is unreasonable. Alastair Crooke

Hizbullah Appeals to Uk Over Ban
Don't bow to US pressure, urges leading member.

UK Ponders Talking With Hamas and Hizbullah
Militants' gains at polls persuade Foreign Office to rethink policy.

Bush Takes Softer Line With Hizbullah
George Bush has signalled a softer line towards the Lebanese-based Hizbullah militia, calling on it to turn its back on violence and take a political path.

Anti-Syrians Outdo Hizbullah in Street Protests
The battle for the streets of Lebanon reached new heights yesterday when hundreds of thousands of anti-Syria protesters, some with Lebanese flags painted on their faces, swamped the centre of Beirut.

Beirut on the Brink of an Abyss
There is foreboding in Lebanon after Hizbollah flexed its political muscles last week. Peter Beaumont reports from the group's stronghold in the Bekaa Valley.

Hizbullah Rejects Us Call to Disarm
Hizbullah, the Lebanon-based militia organisation, rejected US demands to disarm yesterday, one of the main causes of tension between Washington and Iran and Syria.

France Bans Hizbullah Tv Station
The French government has banned broadcasts by a satellite TV channel run by the militant Hizbullah organisation on the grounds of anti-semitism.

Hizbullah is Involved in West Bank, Says Israel
The Iranian-backed guerrilla group Hizbullah is increasingly involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with orders and money flowing from its Beirut headquarters into the West Bank, according to a senior Israeli intelligence official. The group has 10 "controllers" in Beirut who are...

Sharon Denies Link to Hostage Freed in Hizbullah Swap
Ariel Sharon yesterday dismissed as a "wild attack" accusations that he did a deal with Hizbullah to free hundreds of Palestinian and other Arab prisoners in exchange for a self-confessed Israeli drug dealer because of a longstanding relationship with the abducted man's family. The...

Prisoners Freed As Bomb Kills 10 in Israel
Hundreds freed in exchange deal with Hizbullah despite suicide attack on crowded bus near Sharon's residence.

Israel Hits Back After Army Death
The Israeli air force bombed Hizbullah targets in southern Lebanon yesterday in retaliation for the killing of a soldier in a missile attack on Israel's northern border. There was no immediate information on casualties in the first Israeli air strike on the area for five months...

Prisoner Swap May See Potential Arafat Successor Freed
Israel and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbullah are close to agreeing a prisoner swap that could see the release of the man widely viewed as Yasser Arafat's natural successor, Marwan Barghouti. Hizbullah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, told a Beirut newspaper he expected a...

Israel attacks Hizbullah after fatal shelling
Israeli aircraft attacked suspected Hizbullah positions in southern Lebanon yesterday, hours after shells fired by guerrillas hit northern Israel and killed a teenage boy and injured five people.

The Enforcer, the Holiday Isle Scam and the Money Trail to Terror Gangs
A Lebanese mafioso linked to Kenneth Noye and John Palmer is suspected of channelling funds to Hizbollah. David Rose reports from Tenerife.

Violence spreads south as forces of the rump regime get ever bolder
At first sight, the town of Amara looks like trouble. Since the end of the war, there have been five checkpoints on the way into the town, manned by heavily armed, grizzled guerrillas from a hardline Islamist group, Hizbullah of Iraq. But the appearance of danger turned out to be deceptive - until yesterday.

Israel Holds 12 in Hizbullah Spy Ring
Israel's intelligence service has arrested 12 people, including two soldiers, accused of trading military secrets to Hizbollah in exchange for tonnes of drugs. Among those accused is a Jewish mother of three whose arrest has shocked and outraged residents of her home town, which has been...

Israel Shocked By Spy Trial of Bedouin Colonel
Court told Hizbullah victim sold secrets for drugs.

Rein in Hizbullah or Face Attack, Israel Tells Syria
Israel warned Syria yesterday that it will face reprisals if the Islamist group Hizbullah launches new rocket and mortar attacks this weekend.

Education may be key to extremist actions
Terrorism has little or nothing to do with economics, according to a new analysis of the social background of Hizbullah militants in Lebanon.

Israel Seeks to Expel West Bank Leader
Marwan Barghouti, the West Bank leader credited with being a key organiser of the intifada, is to be expelled to Lebanon under a deal taking shape between Israel and the Hizbullah guerrillas, Israel Army Radio reported today. The report said Israel would send Mr Barghouti, credited with...

Sharon's War Breathes New Life Into Hizbullah
The Israeli-Lebanon border had been quiet for two years until Ariel Sharon's savage campaign against the Palestinians fanned the flames of a wider conflict, writes Brian Whitaker.

Hizbullah attacks border posts
Israel retaliates in worst fighting since pullout.

Ready to pounce, the enemy in the shadows
Hizbullah action heightens threat of second front. Street protests across the Arab world this week have been punctuated by the slogans "Open the Arab fronts" and "Where are the Arab armies?"

Threat grows of second front in Lebanon
The Israeli army and the Lebanese-based guerrilla group Hizbullah exchanged fire yesterday as Israeli-Arab relations deteriorated significantly amid fears that a second front could be opened in the Middle East conflict.

Hizbullah fear after six killed at border
Violence may be spreading to second front. Israel faced the prospect of a second front opening in the Middle East conflict yesterday when gunmen killed at least six Israelis one kilometre from Israel's northern border with Lebanon.