A gauge of Iran's hand in Iraq
New US charges that it is working with Hizbullah in Iraq.
from the July 5, 2007 edition
Page 2 of 3
The new US charges, however, come amid others in recent months that many experts consider exaggerated, including an Iranian role in making armor-piercing roadside bombs. "There's been a clear attempt by the Americans over the past year to eliminate Hizbullah through war, diplomacy, and political means. It's very clear to me this is another attempt," says Amal Saad-Ghorayeb, of the Carnegie Endowment's Middle East Center in Beirut.
Hizbullah, which was trained by Iran when it was founded in 1982, fought Israel to a standstill during a 34-day war last summer, reaffirming a prowess that resulted in the 2000 withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after an 18-year occupation. The effectiveness of roadside bombs back then was a key to Hizbullah's success.
"Hizbullah doesn't have that many resources, and I don't think they can spread themselves at this time while rebuilding from last year's war," says Ms. Saad-Ghorayeb. "If they are going to spread themselves, it would more likely be with the Palestinians, given the situation in Gaza."
In a statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said that "unfortunately, the US statesmen are in the habit of repeating false and ridiculous claims without presenting any documents."
Some say collusion between Iran and Hizbullah in Iraq is in keeping with networks Iran has built in Iraq since 2003 – partly, Iranian analysts often say, to give it leverage against US forces in case of a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. "I don't think it's that surprising that you have Hizbullah people operating in Iraq – what is surprising is how few have actually been caught," says Mahan Abedin, of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism in London.
"Intelligence penetration [in Iraq], aiding insurgent groups, and making life difficult for the Americans and Brits…. [T]he Qods Force is very much involved in Iraq – I think that is beyond dispute," says Mr. Abedin. "The Americans are not saying anything that we don't know, but where they are getting it wrong is in the details.
In Iraq, "the most important thing [the Qods] force has done is transfer a set of skills to a select number of groups and individuals," he adds. "I don't think the Qods Force is directly involved in any anti-British or anti-American attacks, because the reaction would be very harsh. If [the US] really had evidence that Iranians had killed 200-odd of their soldiers, as they claimed in January, they … would be hitting back."
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