Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed on Monday that the conflict in the region is pure political, yet the religious differences are being used and exploited in such regional battles, in contrary to the righteous struggle that Hezbollah is fighting against the Zionist enemy.
During an interview aired live on the Syrian al-Ekhbariya channel, Sayyed Nasrallah recalled the Arab and Saudi relations with the ousted Iranian President Shah Mohammad Reda Bahlawi that was excellent because he was their ally under the US rule despite that he was Shiite.
“When the Islamic revolution went off, and the ties with the United States and Israel were cut, a new rhetoric emerged,” his eminence stated, noting that Hezbollah has no problem with the Jews, “but with the Zionists who occupied our land.”
On Syria, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated that getting involved in the war was a pure choice of Hezbollah alone, and that the part can shoulder the full responsibility for his decision.
“From the very beginning, we anticipated that the war in Syria will be long and harsh… because a huge battle was being prepared for.”
His eminence explained that the reasons behind targeting Syria are not only due to its support for the resistance, but also because it has been an independent state during the last decades by making its own decisions and planning its strategy.
“Syria is also a central state in the region, and no one can set the future of the regional aside from Syria or from the Syria will,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, noting that the western camp thought President Bashar al-Assad was in need to their support and relations in order to strengthen his legitimacy following the demise of his father, and thus they tried to confiscate the Syrian will.
“Assassinate of ex-PM Rafik Hariri had set the scenario to accuse Syria, and Syria was obliged to withdraw from Lebanon, but it didn’t submit (to the western will), Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that following the Zionist July 2006 war on Lebanon, the western camp tried to communicate with Assad but he refused to submit to anyone.
“For these reasons, the desire to seize control over Syria or to destroy it has emerged. The battle in Syria is the battle for resistance and for the independence of Syria,” he said.
Hezbollah Secretary General stated that al-Qaeda terrorist organization came to Syria in order to control it and to extend its control over the region and over Yemen.
“Since the first day, Assad was ready to answer the rightful popular demands and for dialogue. When they (western camp) realized that, they pressed towards the wide military action.”
“They didn’t want to serve the interests of the Syrian people, but to topple the regime because it is resistant and independent, and because they want to dominate over Syria and turn it back to a country that has nothing to do with all regional events,” his eminence reiterated, stressing that war on Syria has failed since the state still exists, as well as its sovereignty.
“War on Syria has failed due to the steadfastness of the leadership and army, and the wide popular support.”
His eminence said that there weren’t in Syria anyone who wanted to go to dialogue, and most of the opposition parties are linked to foreign powers.
“The catastrophe was when ISIL (an acronym of the so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’) and al-Nusra Front emerged. Are ISIL and al-Nusra ready for dialogue? Is ISIL ideology is a one of dialogue?” Sayyed Nasrallah asked.
“ISIL and al-Nusra are the same but only the names are different,” he said.
On Hezbollah, Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized that the party is neither a regional power nor a regular army, but a resistance movement who has certain personnel and capabilities, yet he might be have qualitative influence in some arenas, particularly in fighting guerilla wars.
“We are present in Syria as required, and we will deploy where we should deploy, without any political or non-political considerations.”
“Qalamoun battle is a joint Syria-Lebanese requirement, and we have the capability to be where it is required,” he said, elaborating that sometimes Hezbollah participates by fighter, and others by advice and consultation.
Answering a question on why Hezbollah responded from South Lebanon to the Zionist brutal air strike that targeted a Hezbollah convoy in Syria’s Quneitra in January, Sayyed Nasrallah stated that Hezbollah wanted to deliver a message that both the enemy and the friend had understood, “and if we responded from Syria, the strategic value of the response would be lesser.”
More to follow…
The interview is being aired on Al-Manar TV channel and Al-Manar English website offers a real-time coverage.
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