Hizballah

On Thursday, the Israeli military said it had destroyed about half of Hizballah's military strength.

Hizballah has denied any role in the killing and vowed never to turn over any of its members.

The Israelis said Khiam was just one of 100 villages in the border district that Hizballah has secretly transformed into "military bases. "

The two countries are sworn enemies, and Syria is close to Israel's deadliest foes: Hizballah, Hamas and Iran.

The accused man arrived alone aboard a scooter at the home of his Hizballah comrade.

"Accusing a Shi'ite group of killing a Sunni leader leads to a catastrophe, " Ali Khreiss, a Shi'ite MP and ally of Hizballah said Tuesday.

But beyond this, the government suspects Hizballah will try to further the interests of its Iranian and Syrian backers.

Israeli officials have said they will continue their attacks until the Israeli soldiers are released and Hizballah disarms.

Hizballah says it will not return the Israeli soldiers until Lebanese prisoners held in Israel are released.

Hariri had defied Hizballah's demand that his government cease cooperation with the tribunal.

Many Lebanese fear that an indictment of Hizballah personnel could lead to sectarian clashes between rival Sunni and Shi'ite factions.

One indirect objective of the Gaza offensive might have been to warn off Israel's other non-state militant foe: Hizballah.

"Our view of Hizballah is very well known, " said Philip J. Crowley, the State Department spokesman, on Monday.