'Lebanon must unite to counter Israel'

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution says Lebanese factions must seek unity in order to counter the threats against their country.

"Unity among Lebanese political and ethnic groups is the only way to achieve progress in Lebanon," Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in a meeting with visiting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday.

The Leader said that Iran would continue to lend support to Lebanon, urging all factions in the country to unite in order to 'confront the danger of Israel'.

Earlier in September, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Tel Aviv of meddling in Beirut affairs in order to block national reconciliation.

In November, Israel reportedly threatened to target the Lebanese army infrastructure should Hezbollah members take charge of the interior ministry or the defense portfolio.

With the military backing of Hezbollah, Lebanon had delivered a crushing defeat to the Israeli military in 2006. The 33-day conflict was initiated by Israel on July 12.

Ayatollah Khamenei said during the Tuesday meeting that the manner by which Lebanon pushed the Israeli army out of its territory in 2006 should serve as an exemplar for all Arab countries. More