Iranians Training Fighters in Lebanon, Congress Told

Iranian cadres are training Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, a State Department official told Congress on Thursday.

Assistant Secretary of State David Welch told the House International Relations Committee that the information was provided by “our own sources.”

Welch also testified that there was “a continuing covert Syrian presence there” despite the withdrawal of Syrian troops.

He said the United States would have no contact with Lebanon’s energy and water minister, Mohammed Fneish, who is a member of Hezbollah.

“Hezbollah admits its material support for Palestinian terrorist operations, which undermines the Palestinian leadership’s goal of stopping violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories,” Welch said.

Asked by Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Valley Village) whether Iranian cadres were training Hezbollah in Lebanon, Welch replied, “Yes.”

Welch said the Lebanese army should extend its authority to southern Lebanon and the militia groups should be disarmed.

But Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora pledged this week to protect Hezbollah, saying his government considers it “an honest and natural expression” of resistance to Israeli aggression and threats.

Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Burlingame) called the statement “profoundly disturbing.” He said he was not aware of any Israeli threats to Lebanon.