Syria Opposition Asks Hizbullah to 'Withdraw' from Syria, Warns of 'Disastrous' Consequences
The Syrian opposition on Sunday called on Hizbullah to end its military involvement in Syria's conflict, warning that the party's “interference” could have “disastrous consequences.”
In a statement, the main opposition National Coalition urged Hizbullah to "immediately withdraw its forces from Syrian territory", adding that the group's involvement in Syria's conflict "could drag Lebanon and the region into an open-ended conflict with disastrous consequences."
"The Coalition calls on the Lebanese government ... to take all the necessary measures to put a stop to the actions of Hizbullah, which is flagrantly involved (in the conflict) on the side of the Assad regime," the statement added.
The situation in the border area could "explode", said the group, while calling on rebel "Free Syrian Army brigades in Homs province to show restraint and to respect Lebanon's sovereign borders out of keenness on the safety of civilians."
The Coalition also called on the international community to “shoulder its responsibilities in preserving security, condemning these violations and urging the Lebanese government to control its borders.”
Troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad made new advances Sunday on the rebel stronghold town of Qusayr near the border with Lebanon, reports said.
Activists say the army, backed by pro-regime fighters and Hizbullah, is aiming to crush insurgents in villages surrounding Qusayr, and to then launch an assault on the town itself.
Three new shells launched from the Qusayr area landed in Lebanon's Hermel region, the country's National News Agency reported, in what rebels described as retaliation for Hizbullah's involvement in Syria's war and for allegedly firing from across the Lebanese border.
Two of the shells hit the outskirts of the town of Hermel and the other hit the Qasr area, said NNA.
Qusayr has been under rebel control for more than a year. It is strategic because it lays on a route linking Damascus to the coast.
"Loyalist troops backed by Hizbullah have taken control of important villages near Qusayr," said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Qusayr-based activist Hadi al-Abdallah told Agence France Presse that Hizbullah fighters were instrumental to the army's advance.
"The only reason why the regime is advancing in the Qusayr area is because of Hizbullah's troops. Hizbullah fighters advance on the ground, while the (Syrian) air force gives them cover," Abdallah said via the Internet.
Among the flashpoint villages were Radwaniyeh, seized on Saturday, Burhaniyeh and Tal al-Nabi Mando, which is strategic because it lies on a hilltop and overlooks rebel-held areas.
The army meanwhile secured the road linking the Lebanese-Syrian border along the Orontes river to the west of Qusayr.
The fighting has left dozens of people dead this week.
There has been no comments from Hizbullah about the latest fighting but in the past it denied any involvement in the Syrian war.
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