Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Hezbollah in Iraq: Hey, our new pals!

I hear, second-hand, but from an unusually reliable source, that as many as 2,000 Hezbis are now fighting against the Islamic State in Iraq.

MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images
MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images
MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images

640px-Hizbollah_posters_2006

640px-Hizbollah_posters_2006

I hear, second-hand, but from an unusually reliable source, that as many as 2,000 Hezbis are now fighting against the Islamic State in Iraq. I didn’t realize we were effectively allied with Hezbollah.

In other unhappy Iraq-related news: The Boston police officer shot in the face with a .357 magnum the other day is a veteran of Iraq, where he lead a Ranger platoon. He also was recognized for bravery for his role in the shootout with the Boston Marathon bombers. Let us all hope for his swift and full recovery.

Julien Harneis/Wikimedia Commons

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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