- [Chris] The Israel DefenseForces released this footage
of its attack on rocketlaunch sites in Lebanon.
Two rockets struck inside Israel.
One rocket hit an openarea near Kiryat Shmona,
a community of about 20,000
and another was interceptedby the Iron Dome
anti-missile defense system.
Observers believe a Palestiniangroup launched the rockets,
but he Israel DefenseForces warned Lebanon
it would be held responsible
for any attacks from its territory.
The attacks came asseveral thousand Lebanese
marked the one-year anniversary
of the horrific explosionat Beirut's port.
The head of Lebanon'sMaronite Catholic Church
called for accountabilityfor the explosion.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Interpreter] We're hereto demand truth and justice.
This land will remain a stain until
we know what happened in the Beirut port.
(explosion booming)
(people screaming)
- [Chris] The catastrophicblast tore through the city,
and accelerated Lebanon'sdescent into a failed state,
the worst crisis some saysince the 19th century.
Lebanon suffers from fuelshortages, power blackouts,
lack of medical supplies,and a financial crisis
where the currency haslost most of its value.
The country hasn't had afunctioning government for months.
Many blame a corrupt, dysfunctional
political class for the crisis.
The other culprit, some say, is
the Islamic terrorist group, Hezbollah,
which is supported by Iran.
This Lebanese journalist called Hezbollah
an occupying force of Iran,
and blamed the terror group for destroying
what was once called theSwitzerland of the Middle East.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Interpreter] Lebanon used to be
the hospital of the East,the university of the East,
the school of the Eastand the bank of the East.
Hezbollah has destroyed everything.
We no longer have hospitals.
Our hospitals are being shut down
because the have no fuel.
All the university professorsimmigrate from this country.
- [Chris] With Lebanonon the verge of collapse,
Middle East analyst, Jacques Neriah,
believes the country could be ripe
for a takeover by Hezbollah.
- I think that the onlyones who will be the winners
are Hezbollah becauseeconomically and financially,
they are best organized and they are,
they are assisted by Iran
who just sends billions,millions of dollars
to Hezbollah, and Hezbollah has already
created a parallel state.
It will take no time forHezbollah to take over
if such an instruction is given by Tehran.
- [Chris] The fall of Lebanon would have
disastrous consequences forIsrael and the Middle East,
including more attacks and warfare
against the Jewish state in the future,
and giving Iran more power in the region.
Chris Mitchell, CBN News, Jerusalem.
