Middle East: Tangled Ties

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THE POWER BROKERS

IRAN Helped create Hizballah as a Shi'ite force in Lebanon and continues to sponsor its activities. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed a "crushing response" if Israel moves against Syria

SYRIA President Bashar Assad has disclaimed any ties to Lebanon since the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005 but remains a sponsor of Hizballah and is host to Hamas leaders

THE FACTIONS

HIZBALLAH Formed in 1982, the terrorist group has grown into a national movement under Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. Many in Lebanon credit Hizballah with forcing Israel to end its 18-year occupation in 2000

HAMAS A Palestinian extremist group founded in 1987 and known for directing suicide bombings against Israel. It's now the ruling Palestinian party THE TARGET

ISRAEL Although he lacks significant military experience, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is fighting a two-front battle: against Hizballah to the north in Lebanon and Hamas to the south in Gaza. Olmert has ruled out a prisoner exchange to win the return of kidnapped Israelis, and says the operations in Lebanon will end when Hizballah is disarmed THE BATTLEGROUND

LEBANON The fragile country is struggling to emerge from decades of conflict and domination by Syria, which has long supported Hizballah and its operations against Israel in the southern part of Lebanon. Newly elected Prime Minister Fouad Siniora claims he is powerless to dislodge or disarm Hizballah forces, but Israel blames the Lebanese government for the recent attacks