TFLE01: SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN VILLAGES BESET BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 002488 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/SINGH/HARDING E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2016 TAGS: IS LE MOPS PHUM PTER SUBJECT: TFLE01: SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN VILLAGES BESET BY HIZBALLAH TACTICS AND SHIA REFUGEES Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) A delegation of the municipal heads of four Christian villages located near the Blue Line told econoff on July 28 that Hizballah was sneaking into their villages and launching rockets from inside them. The resulting Israeli airstrikes damage houses and kill civilians. The municipal heads suspect Hizballah was using rocket launchers with timers. When the municipal heads confronted Hizballah officials, they denied the practice but did not seem too concerned about civilian casualties and talked about "open war." At the same time, these Christian villages are hosting about 20,000 Shia refugees from neighboring villages. A humanitarian crisis is brewing as the refugees lack potable water and electricity. End summary. HIZBALLAH LAUNCHING ROCKETS FROM CHRISTIAN VILLAGES -------------- ¶2. (C) On July 28, a delegation of the municipal heads of four Christian villages near the Blue Line briefed econoff on their security and humanitarian problems. Led by Joseph Abou Elias, the municipal heads represented a small "Christian belt" of villages--Rmaich, Ayn Ebel, Debel, and Qaozah -- located just west of the intense ground fighting occurring in the triangle formed by Bint Jbeil, Yaroun, and Maroun el-Ras. According to Abou Elias, Hizballah fighters have been sneaking into Christian villages at night and launching rockets from within the villages. The resulting Israeli return fire, whether from artillery or air strikes -- has damaged many houses and killed civilians. Early in the war, Hizballah launched a rocket from Ayn Ebel, and shortly thereafter an Israeli airstrike destroyed or damaged 70-80 houses in the village. Abou Elias said that Hizballah fighters haven't been seen in Christian villages, so he suspects that Hizballah fighters place launchers with timers in the villages at night, which allows the fighters to evacuate in safety. ¶3. (C) The municipal heads have met with Hizballah and Amal MPs and local Hizballah officials to complain. Hizballah denied the practice, but one Hizballah official bluntly said that if one of Hizballah's fighters is facing death, he will seek shelter wherever he can. Abou Elias accused Hizballah of intentionally trying to increase civilian casualties. He got the impression that Hizballah considers itself to be in a war of survival, so any means necessary are acceptable. Hizballah officials have repeatedly talked about "open war." BREWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS -------------- ¶4. (C) The municipal heads were frustrated by Hizballah's tactics because their Christian villages have accepted some 20,000 Shia refugees from neighboring villages. Some Shia fled from the fighting in the Bint Jbeil triangle, but other Shia have the impression that they will be safe from Israeli bombs in Christian villages. There is no fuel for generators or running water in the Christian villages, so the Shia refugees are drinking water from pools on tobacco farms and from animal troughs. They cannot boil the water since there is no electricity. Rmaich, the largest Christian town and where the most Shia refugees have congregated, has two working wells for fresh water. However, they are located outside the town and whenever someone tries to take water from the well, Israeli forces shell the area around the well, according to the municipal heads. Communication is difficult as the landlines are down, and cellphones aren't working because there is no electricity to charge their batteries. ¶5. (C) Abou Elias added that the situation is getting worse and is exacerbated by stubborn residents who refuse to leave their homes despite Israeli warnings to evacuate. There are too many who say they would rather die in their own homes than live without dignity as refugees. FELTMAN