Iran guards predict Israel demise by Lebanese Hezbollah

[Guest guest]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7250894.stm

Monday, 18 February 2008, 13:59 GMT

Iran's Revolutionary Guards leader has predicted the imminent

destruction of Israel by fighters from the Lebanese movement

Hezbollah.

" We will soon witness the destruction of the cancerous scum of Israel

at the strong, capable hands of Hezbollah, " Maj-Gen Mohammad Jafari

wrote.

He was writing to the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah following the

killing of senior commander Imad Mughniyeh.

Iran and Hezbollah blamed Israel for the death, something Israel has

denied.

Fars News Agency said Maj-Gen Jafari was writing to Mr Nasrallah to

extend " congratulations and condolences for the martyrdom " of

Mughniyeh, who died in a car bomb in Damascus last week.

The Hezbollah veteran was high on US and Israeli wanted lists,

accused of involvement in a string of militant attacks since the

1980s.

Israeli officials declined to comment on the specific remarks.

" We are not harbouring any illusions about the Tehran regime's true

intentions nor its extremist agenda, " said foreign ministry spokesman

Mark Regev.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has often predicted the

imminent demise of Israel, drawing sharp criticism from its allies in

the west.

The Revolutionary Guards were set up after the 1979 Islamic

revolution with a separate command structure to the regular military

to protect Iran's Islamic system.

Hezbollah forces battled the Israeli army in the July 2006 war, which

the Lebanese militia claims as a " divine victory " .