Mujahideen in Lebanon Accuse Hizbullah, Iran, and Syria of Attempting to Wipe Out Lebanese Sunnis

On November 19, 2006, an Islamist website posted a statement by a group calling itself "The Mujahideen in Lebanon" accusing Hizbullah of attempting to wipe out Lebanese Sunnis and eradicate Sunni Islam in Lebanon. The statement says: "Death squads have already been formed in Beirut, on the instructions of the Iranian religious authorities. [These death squads], which are an 'Alawi [i.e. Syrian] political import, are waiting for the moment... to [start] killing our people and destroying [our] mosques, as is happening in Iraq on a daily basis."

The statement then urges Sunnis in Lebanon to prepare for confrontation with Shi'ite hostility, saying: "Today they [i.e. Hizbullah] wish to take over Lebanon by joining forces with the Crusaders of Lebanon, in order to completely eliminate the Sunni sect [in the country]. The Shi'ites must know that we are ready to stop them…"

Islamic Army in Iraq Denounces Iraqi Government's Warrant for Arrest of Sunni Sheikh Hareth Al-Dhari

On November 19, 2006, Islamist websites posted a statement by the Islamic Army in Iraq denouncing the Iraqi government's decision to arrest prominent Sunni cleric Sheikh Hareth Al-Dhari, whom the statement says is secretary-general of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq. The statement calls the decision to arrest Al-Dhari an offense to Sunnis - scholars and sheikhs as well as ordinary citizens - and a blow to anyone striving to achieve national reconciliation under the difficult circumstances prevailing in Iraq. It reads: "The ink on the Mecca Charter, [recently signed by] representatives of the Association [of Muslim Scholars in Iraq],[1] is not yet dry, [yet the government is already taking steps against the Sunnis]. This confirms what we have been saying all along - namely, that waging jihad against these Shi'ites is the only solution…"

The statement also says that the Iraqi government must be pressured to revoke the warrant and to officially apologize for it. It calls upon the mujahideen to stand united "like a solid wall [Koran 61:4]" to repel the attacks on them by the Americans and the Shi'ite infidels. Finally, the statement calls to "shut the door" on the National Reconciliation initiative, and warns all "honorable Iraqis" not to participate in it.