Hezbollah claims victory against Israel

Lebanese children celebrate as they head back to south Lebanon on a damaged section of road near Naami, south of Beirut, Monday, Aug. 14, 2006. Hours after a U.N.-brokered ceasefire took hold Monday, thousands of Shiite refugees

By LAUREN FRAYER and KATHY GANNON, Associated Press Writers
17 minutes ago

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said Monday that his guerrillas achieved a "strategic, historic victory" against Israel — a declaration that prompted celebratory gunfire across the Lebanese capital.

Israel's prime minister, however, maintained the offensive eliminated the "state within a state" run by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese civilians jammed onto roads to stream back to war-ravaged areas Monday after a the cease-fire halted the fighting that claimed more than 900 lives.

For the first time in a month, no rockets were fired into northern Israel, but few Israelis who fled the war were seen returning and Israel's government advised them to stay away for now.

Nasrallah said Hezbollah "came out victorious in a war in which big Arab armies were defeated (before)."

"We are today before a strategic, historic victory, without exaggeration," Nasrallah said. He spoke on the day a cease-fire took effect — ending 34 days of deadly fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. Nasrallah called Monday "a great day."

Now was not the time to debate the disarmament of his guerrilla fighters, Nasrallah asserted.

"Who will defend Lebanon in case of a new Israeli offensive?" he asked. "The Lebanese army and international troops are incapable of protecting Lebanon," he said, flanked by Lebanese and Hezbollah flags.

But Nasrallah said he was open to dialogue about Hezbollah's weapons at the appropriate time. And he credited his group's weapons with proving to Israel that "war with Lebanon will not be a picnic. It will be very costly."

"The main goal of Israel in this war has been to remove Hezbollah's weapons. This will not happen through destroying homes... It will come through discussion," Nasrallah said. >>>cont

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