Hizbullah leader Nasrallah
Photo: AFP
Hizbullah to cooperate with army in helicopter probe
After opening fire on Lebanese Army helicopter gunmen mistook for Israeli craft, killing its navigator, Hizbullah releases statement describing incident as 'unfortunate and painful', expressing willingness to assist official military investigation
After opening fire on an army helicopter on Thursday, Lebanese As-Safir daily reported that Hizbullah had stated it would cooperate fully with an investigation into the incident.
Hizbullah, meanwhile, described the incident in a statement Friday as "very unfortunate and painful." The statement added that the case is now in the hands of the judiciary and Hizbullah will cooperate "to the maximum extent" with the army and judicial authorities in the investigation.
The paper quoted anonymous sources saying that the gunmen mistook the helicopter for an Israeli aircraft dropping off soldiers in the south of the country and opened fire, killing the navigator. The paper often receives leaked information from the Shiite militant group.
Mistaken Identity
Army says aircraft made forced landing after coming under fire while on training mission over Hizbullah stronghold
"This incident had causes that will be revealed during the investigation," the group stated. "The investigation will be handed over in full to Lebanon's judiciary, the source of natural and legal investigation for this case."
The incident took place in Hizbullah's stronghold of Iqlim al-Tuffah where the group is believed to have bases and concealed positions. A senior military officer said the investigation was ongoing and there was no comment on the media report.
The slain navigator, First Lt. Samer Hanna was buried Friday in his hometown of Tanourin, north of Beirut, according to the state-run news agency. Hizbullah's statement expressed condolences for the family.
"On this painful occasion we send our condolences to the family of the martyr Samer Hanna and our brothers in the Lebanese Army," it said. "We express our deepest regret for what happened, and see him as a fallen soldier of the homeland, the opposition, and the Lebanese Army."
'Do we need permission to fly?'
The incident has raised political tensions in the country. If Hizbullah guerrillas were behind the shooting, this could be used by the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority to increase their calls for Hizbullah to disarm.
The group concluded its statement with an appeal against this. "We hope the political officials will not lend unfounded interpretation to this event, of which the details are as yet unclear, and allow the judiciary to fulfill its function here," the group stated.
However criticism was forthcoming. Former legislator Fares Soeid, a strong critic of Hizbullah, asked whether "the Lebanese army needs permission to fly over Lebanese territories. Is there a demarcation of border between the state of Lebanon and the state of Hizbullah? Did Hizbullah want to say that there is a red line?" he told reporters Thursday.
Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, the spiritual leader of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims, described the incident as "an aggression against the army." As-Safir said the shooting incident was caused by a "lack of coordination" on the helicopter flight.
AP contributed to this report
