Nabatiyeh exhibition pays tribute to slain Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh

Beirut -- NABATIYEH: An exhibition commemorating slain Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh opened to the public on Sunday in Nabatiyeh in South Lebanon. Focusing mainly on the summer 2006 war with Israel and the Jewish state's withdrawal from most of South Lebanon in 2000, "Al-Imad Exhibition: Leader of the Two Victories," was organized by Hizbullah and inaugurated by Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, head of the group's Executive Council.

Mughniyeh was killed on February 12 in Damascus in a car bombing as he was leaving an Iranian Embassy party celebrating a major Iranian holiday. Hizbullah immediately blamed Israel for the killing, a charge denied by the Jewish state. The location of the hit strained relations between Hizbullah and Syria, which has yet to release the findings of its investigation into the killing. Hizbullah also promised retaliation for the death of its storied commander - many have given Mughniyeh credit for Hizbullah's successes in the 2006 conflict, and legends of his handiwork against the Israelis are legion, although his appearance and location became closely guarded secrets in the last decade of his life.

Visitors enter the Nabatiyeh exhibit by walking through a giant hat labeled Radwan's Cap, a reference to Mughniyeh's nom de guerre.

Referring to South Lebanon, one section called The Invader's Graveyard displayed samples of destroyed Israeli military equipment. Israeli vehicles, tanks and weapons seized by Hizbullah fighters were laid out in a recreated battlefield.

Another section, The Time of Victories, showed artwork that demonstrated the steadfastness of Hizbullah and the Shiite residents of South Lebanon.

In the Victory Makers area, the weapons and belongings of slain Hizbullah fighters were laid out. Mughniyeh's desk, mobile phone, glasses, Kalashnikov and uniform were placed beside the torn and bloodied clothes he had been wearing when killed.

Samples of the different weapons used by Hizbullah were also on display for the first time and included rocket-propelled grenades, katyusha rockets and Kalashnikovs.

Visitors could also watch a film, "The Path of the Martyrs," which focused on the values of martyrdom and sacrifice.

Mughniyeh's mother, also visiting the exhibit, told The Daily Star, "I am proud of my son, and for the first time I am learning about how he lived. I knew nothing more about him than anybody else."