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Nasrallah Warns Israel over Nuclear Sites, Accuses LF of Seeking Hizbullah-FPM Dispute

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Monday ruled out an imminent Israeli attack or war against Lebanon as he warned that this group has the ability to target nuclear and biological sites in Israel in any future confrontation.

“I rule out an Israeli attack or war against Lebanon in the near future,” said Nasrallah in an interview on al-Mayadeen television, dismissing recent media reports in this regard.

“Any Israeli war on Lebanon would be an uncalculated adventure,” he warned, reassuring that “through its readiness, expertise, military skills and stance, the resistance has made the Israelis realize that any war on Lebanon will be very costly.”

“We will not abide by any restrictions or red lines in the event of any war against Lebanon,” Nasrallah threatened, revealing that Hizbullah possesses “a full list of targets in occupied Palestine, including nuclear reactors and biological research centers.”

Commenting on the latest Israeli military exercises, Hizbullah's chief noted that “Israel's military maneuvers are not new.”

“Some think that Hizbullah is preoccupied in Syria, but we have a team that is dedicated to the Israeli issue and everything the Israelis say,” he added.

“If anyone in the enemy's entity is thinking of waging a limited military operation, I tell them that they are mistaken … We will not allow the Israelis to impose a new equation and any step by them will be an uncalculated adventure. We will respond to any attack in a manner that protects our country and the Israelis must expect anything from us,” Nasrallah warned.

Asked whether the latest Arab League decision that labeled Hizbullah as terrorist could encourage Israel to wage an attack against Hizbullah, Nasrallah noted that “Israel does not wait for an Arab cover to wage its wars,” stressing that “it only weighs its interest and seeks U.S. approval.”

Turning to Syria, Hizbullah's chief accused Saudi Arabia of blocking any “political solution” to the conflict, adding that he does not expect progress on the political track.

“The political solution must not be imposed on the Syrians by the foreign forces. The Turks might be more realistic than the Saudis regarding the precondition of President (Bashar) Assad's departure,” he said.

Nasrallah also declared that all claims that Hizbullah might withdraw from Syria in the wake of Russia's pullout are baseless.

“Our presence these is linked to a goal. We are contributing to preventing the fall of Syria into the hands of Daesh (Islamic State group), al-Nusra (Front) and the takfiri groups,” he said.

“We went there for this goal and as long as this objective needs us, we will be where we should be,” Nasrallah underlined.

“We are capable of sending more forces but we are not seeking a military solution. We want to curb the bloodshed and we want the opposition to achieve some of its legitimate demands,” he added.

Asked about al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri's return to Lebnaon, Nasrallah noted that he is willing to meet with the former premier “if the Hizbullah-Mustaqbal dialogue requires such a meeting.”

He noted however that “any meeting should lead to political results,” voicing skepticism about such an outcome in the current period.

“Our representatives are meeting and discussing all issues. Things are deadlocked regarding the issue of the presidency and the electoral law,” Nasrallah explained.

Noting that “there is a problem called real partnership” in the country, Hizbullah's chief emphasized that “the fair and real solution that can reflect the true sizes of all political forces would be an electoral law based on proportional representation.”

As for the presidency, Nasrallah accused the Lebanese Forces of trying to stir a dispute between Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement.

“If we head to parliament, it is known that (FPM founder MP Michel) Aoun will not be elected,” Nasrallah noted, dismissing LF calls in this regard.

“Our relation with (Speaker Nabih) Berri is not based on coercion and we are ethically committed to supporting Aoun's nomination,” Nasrallah added.

“We have a clear commitment and as long as Aoun says he is a candidate, we will support him. We want a strong, firm president who cannot be bought with money, a president who does not bow to the power of the media or the regional and international forces,” he went on to say.

Asked about the nomination of his other ally, Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, Nasrallah stressed that the northern leader is “qualified to be a president.”

“We trust him and he is our ally and friend,” he added.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and the FPM, Hizbullah and some of their allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions.

Hariri launched late in 2015 a proposal to nominate Franjieh for the presidency but his suggestion was rejected by the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

The Hizbullah-led March 8 camp, as well as March 14's Lebanese Forces, have argued that Aoun is more eligible than Franjieh to become president given the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.

Y.R.


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