Wikileaks: Elias Murr: "Hizballah cannot launch a rocket from Solidere.... Let Hezbollah play with the Lebanese army... We'll shoot. No Joke!"...

C O N F I D E N T I A L  BEIRUT 002553

SUBJECT: TFLE01: DEFENSE MINISTER MURR CONFIDENT IN RAPID LAF DEPLOYMENT

3. (C) As to the potential for an escalation of the conflict, such as a Hizballah attack on Tel Aviv, Murr does not see that as likely. Murr said that the decision to strike Tel Aviv with Zilzal 1 and Zilzal 2 missiles would have to come from Tehran. Israel would have to strike downtown Beirut, which Murr thinks will not happen. When asked whether Hizballah might cynically move a rocket launcher into Solidere in order to draw Israeli aerial fire, Murr dismissed this as "impossible." Saying that he had 3000 LAF troops stationed in Beirut, Murr scoffed, "Hizballah cannot launch a rocket from Solidere. I have too many soldiers there." He also claimed that three days ago the LAF successfully interdicted a Hizballah-bound container of rockets and impounded them in the Ministry of Defense, refusing to release them to Hizballah.  ......... 6. (C) Murr did not mention whether or not the LAF would assume Hizballah's weapons and positions in the South. When asked if he really thinks Hizballah will peacably accept this arrangement, Murr challenged, "Let them play with the Lebanese army. When we're in the South, anyone who moves, we'll shoot at. No joke."