Nasrallah Says Hizbullah 'Stronger than Israel', Advises Hariri to Reverse Stance on Syria
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah suggested Tuesday that his group could be “stronger than the Israeli army,” as he advised Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to reevaluate his stance on the Lebanese-Syrian ties.
“We will soon emerge victorious from this grand war on our region,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech marking the July 2006 war with Israel.
“The events of the past seven years have been a 'greater July war' aimed at achieving the same objectives. The same as we emerged victorious from the July war, the axis of resistance will emerge victorious very soon,” Nasrallah added, referring mainly to the conflict in Syria.
Citing remarks by an Israeli officer who reportedly said that Hizbullah has become the strongest army in the region, Nasrallah said “Hizbullah might not be the strongest army in the Middle East but it is certainly stronger than the Israeli army.”
“Because we have more faith in our cause and greater willingness to sacrifice,” he explained.
Nasrallah also boasted that “the resistance in Lebanon -- with its arms, personnel, expertise and capabilities -- is stronger than ever.”
“The Israeli enemy, which has been defeated in Syria, is insolently seeking to impose its conditions in Syria, but this will not happen,” Hizbullah's chief added.
“Let no one threaten us with wars. If anyone wants to wage a war, they are welcome to do so. We are ready for it and we will win,” he stressed.
Turning to the domestic situations, Nasrallah called for “avoiding street protests” and “preserving security in Lebanon,” in connection with the government formation crisis.
“If someone is betting on foreign developments, then they are mistaken,” he added.
Commenting on remarks voiced earlier in the day by Hariri, Nasrallah said: “Some officials in Lebanon should not commit themselves to stances that they might be obliged to reverse in light of the regional developments.”
Hariri had announced that the new government “will not be formed” should the pro-Damascus camp “insist on restoring Lebanese-Syrian ties.”
“If others insist on restoring Lebanese-Syrian ties from the gateway of the reopened Nassib border crossing, then the government will not be formed,” Hariri said in a chat with reporters, referring to a key border crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian border that has been recently recaptured by Damascus.
“I do not agree to a restoration of Lebanese-Syrian ties and this is nonnegotiable,” Hariri added.
The PM-designate however stressed that “the obstacle is purely the result of Lebanese failure,” emphasizing that “the relation with Saudi Arabia is excellent” and that the kingdom is “urging us to speed up the formation process.”
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