Photo by: AFP

A recording of slain Hezbollah military chief Imad Mughnieh's voice echoes around the charred remains of captured Israeli tanks as the Lebanese Islamists showcase their 2006 "victory" over Israel. In a large car park in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh, battle relics from the deadly 34-day conflict are arranged as grim exhibition artefacts while Mughnieh's pre-recorded voice orders his troops to open fire. Smoke pours around a tank, which is bathed in an eerie red light; just one of the many war trophies Hezbollah has put on display since August 15 to mark the two years since its "divine victory" over Israel. The devastating conflict, which was sparked by Hezbollah's capture on July 12, 2006 of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. The war ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire on August 14, 2006. Mughnieh was suspected of masterminding the July 12 guerrilla raid, as well as dozens of other attacks spanning at least two decades and topped Israeli and US most wanted lists. Audio recordings and videos of explosions and gunfire thunder around the outdoor exhibition, glorying in the triumph of the "resistance" and of Mughnieh, who was killed in a car bomb blast in Damascus on February 12. Hezbollah blamed the bombing on Israel, which denied any involvement, even as some fingers pointed at other parties.

Display architect Akil Hoteit and his 290-strong team have worked for three weeks to put together the exhibition, which he said is an "artistic work" and homage to the efforts of the "resistance." "It's like you were there," university student Fuad Jawhar said as he toured the exhibits. At the entrance, a giant olive green cap similar to the type worn by Mughnieh greets visitors who must cross a "victory bridge" whose sides are decorated with Israeli artillery shells. At the "tank cemetery," Israeli battle tanks -- Merkavas captured by Hezbollah during Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000 -- stand beside the shell of a helicopter shot down in 2006. In a corner a fake skeleton wearing an Israeli army uniform lies in a coffin. At the centre of the exhibition is a 10-square-metre (108-square-foot) "cemetery," featuring Hebrew inscriptions and Israeli army badges. Scattered all around are bullet-holed military helmets, worn boots and torn uniforms.