Raad Warns: Lebanon Target İn May 31 Israeli Maneuver

The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohamad Raad warned on Tuesday that Lebanon must go on high alert in anticipation of the Zionist entity's largest-ever military maneuvers scheduled to take place on May 31.

"Lebanon is one of Israel's targets during the exercises. The country must be fully prepared for such an emergency," Raad told the national dialogue session.

The Hezbollah representative in the national dialogue conference distributed extensive literature on the operation dubbed "Turning Point 3" with details on targets, scenarios and steps to counter a possible threat.

According to well-informed sources, Raad's warning stimulated the majority of the national dialogue poles' concerns and interests and raised serious discussions that focused on the Israeli Mossad-linked cells uncovered lately in Lebanon.

The sources noted that the Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea was the only leader who "deviated from the rhythm" who insisted that Lebanon had more than one enemy, claiming that many security apparatuses, not only Israeli ones, were operating at the Lebanese territories.

Meanwhile, Raad reiterated during an electoral meeting, that the Israeli enemy was still indulging in the hope of convincing Lebanon to engage into so-called peace talks. He said that whoever was raising a slogan, other than Resistance, was calling people to surrender. "The enemy wants us to surrender and hand over our political will," Raad warned, stressing that the remaining obstacle that's preventing the Zionist entity of controlling the region was the Resistance.

Earlier this month, Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post said Israel and the United States will hold massive joint missile defense drills later this year, testing three anti-ballistic missile systems. It did not give a date for the maneuvers.

The exercise, dubbed Juniper Cobra, will be held to test the Arrow (Hetz) system as well as the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and the ship-based Aegus Ballistic Missile Defense System.

Israeli and US forces have staged the Juniper Cobra exercise over the past five years but the Post said this year's drill was likely to be the most complex yet and will for the first time include the launch of interceptors.

DIALOGUE POSTPONED AGAIN TO JUNE

Meanwhile, Lebanon's rival political leaders on Tuesday postponed to June 1 talks aimed at forging a national defense strategy.

Fourteen politicians representing the country's various parties gathered for a sixth round of discussions on national and sensitive issues. They agreed to reconvene on June 1, a week ahead of a crucial parliamentary election, stressing on holding elections in a calm and democratic atmosphere and called for abiding by decisions made during previous sessions.

The meeting was, meanwhile, marked by a series of "exceptional" meetings that joined loyalty and opposition leaders together. The first leader to arrive at the Baabda Presidential Palace was, in fact, the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary MP Michel Aoun who held closed-door talks with President Michel Sleiman for around 40 minutes. Sources told Al-Manar that the upcoming elections were the talks' main topic, noting that Aoun informed the President that some candidates were using his as a "sponsor" in the electoral game.

The head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt also broke the record with regards to the "social interaction" with the national opposition. He held private talks with MP Raad, a meeting that was later joined by Speaker Berri, with whom Jumblatt held other private talks.

The head of the Future Movement MP Saad Hariri also held side talks with Speaker Nabih Berri after a similar small meeting that brought together Berri, Hariri, Jumblatt and MP Hagop Pakradounian.

MP Michel Murr was the last to arrive to the Presidential Palace. He even lost his way and headed for the President's office instead of the dialogue's room. When he entered the hall, Abu Elias, however, saluted everyone, including his electoral "rival," the General, hours after slamming his candidates in the Metn district.