Israel 'may need to act forcefully against Hezbollah'

Israel’s defence minister today accused Syria of allowing the rearmament of Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon and said Israel has the right to act “forcefully” against the Shiite militia to counter the threat.

Amir Peretz’s comments came days after Israel said it discovered four bombs in northern Israel recently planted by Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Israeli claim, denied by Hezbollah, immediately raised tensions along the volatile border.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a bruising 34-day last summer before a UN-brokered ceasefire took hold.

Under the truce, thousands of Lebanese government troops and international peacekeepers patrol the border to maintain calm. The ceasefire also bars armed Hezbollah fighters from the border area and calls for a halt in unauthorised weapons transfers to the guerrilla group.

Speaking to US Jewish leaders, Peretz said Syria, Hezbollah’s main ally, is continuing to allow weapons shipments to the group to cross its border with Lebanon.

While Israel remains committed to the ceasefire, he said, “we reserve the right to protect the citizens of the state of Israel and we will do this forcefully without any compromises.”