Hezbollah's deadly hold on heartland Loved by many, accused by
others of sacrificing civilians Sonia Verma National Post
"This is Hezbollah's heartland."  The Shiites of southern
Lebanon have seen Hezbollah as their protectors ever since the
group first emerged as an Iranian-backed militia during the
Lebanese civil war.  When Israeli forces withdrew from south
Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah claimed victory.  Since then it has
launched a steady stream of rockets across the border into
Israel, causing few casualties but keeping the Israelis in a
state of perpetual wariness.  Financed, armed and trained by
Iran and supported by Syria, Hezbollah was treated by the
Lebanese government as a legitimate, arm's-length force
patrolling its southern border. Over the years, its social arm
has come to provide social services -- schools, medical clinics
and charities.  But the United States, Canada and Israel
consider Hezbollah a powerful terrorist organization, in part
because it launches violent attacks against civil