In news from Lebanon, a high-ranking leader of Hezbollah has warned the United States not to set up any military bases inside Lebanon. Hezbollah said it would consider such a move a hostile act. The Lebanese newspaper Al Safir recently reported the U.S. wants to expand its ties to the Lebanese military by building a string of U.S. military bases. Days after the report was published, Eric Edelman, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, appeared on Lebanese TV and admitted the U.S. wants to develop what he called a strategic partnership with the Lebanese army. The U.S. has increased its military assistance to Lebanon to $270 million, more than five times the amount provided a year ago.