Inside the Hezbollah 'theme park' where children are taught the glory of martyrdom



Multi-million pound museum is built on former militant stronghold in the Lebanese town of Mleeta

It features tanks, rockets, archive video footage and even a gift shop



Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has built a multi-million pound theme park designed to indoctrinate its children about the glory of martyrdom against its enemy Israel.

The mostly-outdoor museum features barbed wire, tanks, rockets, archive video footage and a lot of guns.

Visitors are able to walk around replica war scenes that feature destroyed Israeli tanks - including one symbolically rendered impotent by a twisted firing barrel - and grave stones lying on their side.

Scroll down for video



Tourist attraction: Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has built a multi-million pound theme park designed to indoctrinate its children about the glory of martyrdom against its enemy Israel

Part art: The mostly-outdoor museum in the town of Mleeta features barbed wire, tanks, rockets, archive video footage and a lot of guns

Reality: The theme park was constructed atop one of Hezbollah strongholds in the town of Mleeta The video segment of the tour allows visitors to watch a history of Hezbollah that clearly sets out the organisation's grievances with Israel and celebrates its victories against it.

The theme park was constructed atop one of their strongholds in the town of Mleeta. It was designed to attract a wide range of visitors, including children and western tourists. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

1

Next Fascinating images offer a rare glimpse into the lives,... Share this article Share A walk inside what was once an active bunker even allows tourists to hold onto a machine gun, just like Hezbollah fighters once did.

New footage has emerged after a reporter for Vice.com took a guided tour of the museum.

And while it might make for a fascinating day trip, Hezbollah's real motive is to promote what it calls 'resistance tourism'.

Symbolic: Replica war scenes feature destroyed Israeli tanks - including this one rendered impotent by a twisted firing barrel

Indoctrination: The concept of 'resistance tourism' is taken to its logical conclusion Gift shop: Visitors can buy tourist-friendly items such as this cap featuring Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah The militant group, which was founded in the 1980s to oppose Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon, is keen to promote its ideology. Its most recent conflict with Israel took place in 2006, when the pair went to war after the Lebanese guerilla group killed three Israeli soldiers and captured two others in a cross-border raid. Although Israel inflicted heavy damage on the Hezbollah, it was unable to prevent it from firing some 4,000 rockets into Israel during the month-long conflict. Since then, Israel has accused Hezbollah of repeatedly violating the UN-brokered ceasefire by restocking its arsenal and covertly moving forces into south Lebanon, near the Israeli border.



Armoury: The militant group, which was founded in the 1980s to oppose Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon, is keen to promote its ideology

Disrespectful: An Israeli grave lies on its side as every opportunity to slight the enemy is seized upon

A walk inside what was once an active bunker even allows tourists to hold onto a machine gun, just like Hezbollah fighters once did

Hezbollah's most recent conflict with Israel took place in 2006, when the pair went to war after the Lebanese guerilla group killed three Israeli soldiers and captured two others in a cross-border raid