Egypt To Pursue Ties With Hezbollah

Thousands of people carry flags as they gather for burial of slain intelligence officer Hassan in downtown Beirut (Reuters / Stringer)

Egypt To Strengthen Ties With Hezbollah -- RT

Egypt will develop its ties with Hezbollah, recognizing it as a “real political and military force,” said an Egyptian official to Lebanese press. The announcement signals a U-turn in policy where Egypt had accused the group of operating terror cells.

In an interview with Lebanese publication the Daily Star, Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Ashraf Hamdy said that his country’s newly-elected Islamist government would build “tight” relations with Hezbollah.

He stated that the ruling Muslim Brotherhood was “stretching out its hand” to its neighbors with a view to developing its foreign policy and furthering interests.

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Update #1: New Egypt warms up to Hezbollah: ambassador -- Daily Star
Update #2: Egypt to pursue relationship with Hezbollah -- Jerusalem Post

My Comment: So Egypt has made it official .... they are aligning themselves with an organization that has been labelled as a terrorist group by the U.S.. This is a major policy shift, and will have an impact on the region and on Israeli - Egyptian ties. No comment from the White House, and even less coverage from the U.S. main stream media on this breaking story.

Hezbollah Planned Three Synchronized Attacks In Egypt

Photo: The foreign ministry summoned an Iranian official after Iran criticised Egypt's claim that it had arrested members of Lebanon's Hezbollah for allegedly planning attacks in the country. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, seen here in March 2009, has accused Tehran of using the Shiite militant group Hezbollah to gain a foothold in the most populous Arab country. (AFP/File/Dominique Faget)

From Asharq Alawsat:

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat - Sources close to the investigations into the Hezbollah cell in Egypt, which includes 49 suspects including Egyptian, Lebanese, and Sudanese nationals, revealed that the cell planned to carry out three major bombing operations in tourist areas of Egypt.

Egypt stated Thursday that it told ambassadors of Arab countries about the investigations taking place with regards to the Hezbollah in Egypt case. Informed legal sources said that this case will be referred to the tribunal next week and that the 24 suspects at large include three Sudanese working for Hezbollah intelligence to transfer weapons from the Sudan-Egypt borders to the Sinai region, where Egypt borders Israel.

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My Comment: With Hezbollah a step away from winning Lebanon's parliamentary elections in June, tensions can and will increase between Egypt and Hezbollah.

Iran Behind Hezbollah Bid To Strike Egypt Targets

From Haaretz:

Iran was behind the planning of terror attacks against targets in Egypt by Hezbollah operatives, the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram quoted a senior official in Cairo as saying Thursday.

Two employees of an Iranian satellite TV channel planned the attacks, the paper said, which were meant to be carried out simultaneously at a number of locations across the country.

According to Al-Ahram, the code-name for the attacks was mentioned in the last speech delivered by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

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My Comment: For those who wonder why the Sunni part of the Arab world are deeply suspicious and hostile towards the Shiite part of the Arab world .... information like this illuminates this situation nicely.