U.S. intel: Iran preparing Hizbullah for asymmetric role in any Gulf war

geostrategydirect.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community has determined that Hizbullah plays a leading role in Iran's asymmetrical warfare strategy.

Iran has been financing and training Hizbullah to strike U.S. interests in any war in the Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been working with Hizbullah to designate U.S. targets in the Middle East and other regions.

"In addition to Al Qaida, its networks and affiliates, I mention the terrorist threat from Hizbullah, which is backed by Iran and Syria," National Intelligence Director John McConnell said.

Iraqi Shi'ite militias have been training in Hizbullah camps in Lebanon, officials said. Hizbullah has also tested and helped develop explosively formed projectiles, or EFPs, for attacks against British and U.S. troops in Iraq.

In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 27, McConnell said Hizbullah has drafted contingency plans to attack U.S. interests. McConnell said these plans could be implemented if Hizbullah feels a threat to its or Iran's survival.

McConnell said the U.S. intelligence community was concerned over the growth of Hizbullah. He said the Iranian-sponsored group has become much more confident since the war against Israel in mid-2006.

"As a result of last summer's hostilities," McConnell said, "Hizbullah's self-confidence and hostility toward the U.S. as a supporter of Israel could cause the group to increase its contingency planning against U.S. interests."

Officials said Hizbullah has also increased control over Palestinian insurgency groups, including Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

"Lebanese Hizbullah continues training Iraqi Shi'a militias," Defense Intelligence Agency Director Michael Maples said. "Hizbullah also continues to provide support to Palestinian terrorist elements to facilitate attacks in Israel. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force has the lead for its transnational terrorist activities, in conjunction with Lebanese Hizbullah and Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security," he said.

In 2006, Hizbullah became the first non-state actor to launch an anti-ship cruise missile, he said. Hizbullah also launched "probable Iranian-supplied unmanned aerial vehicles," with at least one UAV armed with explosives.

The intelligence community has determined that the Israeli military failed to damage Hizbullah's leadership. Officials said Hizbullah has replenished its weapons stockpiles with help from Iran and Syria.

"The Israel Defense Forces damaged some of Hizbullah's arsenal and many of its buildings, but Hizbullah's leadership remains unscathed and probably has already replenished its weapons stockpiles with Iranian and Syrian assistance," Maples said. "Iran and Syria remain committed to Hizbullah's survival. Israeli defense officials have publicly opined that due to the fluid situation, the conflict could reignite during the summer of 2007."

Meanwhile, Western intelligence sources said Iran has been training and equipping Hizbullah in preparation for the next war against Israel. Teheran has increased control over Hizbullah to ensure that the Shi'ite militia could sustain any conflict with Israel.

Sources said Iran was disappointed by Hizbullah's performance in the war. Iran had expected Hizbullah would continue the war for several additional months, but the militia lost steam and agreed to a ceasefire.

Iran has also designed a command and control system to tighten supervision over Hizbullah in Lebanon. The sources said the C2 system would enable direct Iranian control over the Hizbullah leadership without Syrian interference.

Syria has provided misleading reports to Iran regarding Hizbullah's performance in the war. Sources said the regime of President Bashar Assad wanted to use Hizbullah to destabilize Israel and bolster deterrence toward the Jewish state.

As a result, Iran has decided to increase its military presence in Syria to ensure oversight of Hizbullah. Assad has allowed Iran to deploy along the Lebanese-Syrian border.