U.S. now views Hizbullah as a military-terror hybrid with global reach

Gertz....

WASHINGTON — Following its war with Israel, Hizbullah is no longer considered merely a terrorist organization.

Officials said the intelligence community and State Department have concluded that Hizbullah has evolved into a hybrid of a military force in Lebanon and an international terrorist group.

Support and sponsorship by Iran and Syria made Hizbullah the most lethal non-state actor in the Middle East.

"[On Oct. 9, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported that Hizbullah received from Iran missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers. The newspaper attributed the information to German intelligence.]

Hizbullah's performance in the 34-day war against Israel exceeded projections by the U.S. intelligence community, which believed that Hizbullah would seek a ceasefire within a week of fighting.

Frank Urbancic Jr., principal deputy coordinator of the State Department's Counterterrorism Office, told the House Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia on Sept. 28 that Hizbullah could be compared to an "octopus with the head in southern Lebanon and tentacles moving around the world." He said Iran and Syria were responsible for Hizbullah's supply and support.

So what is the plan? Hello? Hizballah needs missile with a 600 mile range for WHAT PURPOSE?

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