Reports: Khazali's Visit an 'Iranian Message'

Iran planned to deliver a message to world powers through a controversial visit paid by an Iran-backed Iraqi militant to Lebanon's border purporting the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as “grasping control" in the region, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

An unnamed opposition source told the daily that Qais al-Khazali's visit to south Lebanon “is an Iranian message to decision-making circles around the world purporting that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard controls political, security and military decisions in the region.”

Khazali, a commander of the Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq, has visited the Lebanon-Israel border expressing support for the Lebanese and Palestinians against the Jewish state and sparking harsh criticism from Prime Minister Saad Hariri who ordered him banned from entering the country.

The video was aired by Asaib Ahl al-Haq al-Ahd TV station Thursday night showing al-Khazali along with members of Hizbullah in military uniforms as they showed him around areas overlooking Israeli towns and villages.

An-Nahar daily, said the video was not leaked by error and that it aimed to “translate” a speech delivered by Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah when he said that “any Israeli aggression on the axis of resistance may open the skies for hundreds of thousands of jihadists and fighters from all over the Arab and Islamic world from Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to be partners in this battle.”

The visit was blasted by Prime Minister Saad Hariri who said in a statement that it is a "flagrant violation" of Lebanese laws, adding that the appearance happened six days ago. Hariri ordered al-Khazali banned from entering Lebanon again.

A statement released by the Iraqi militia commented on the PM's statement saying “it carries a lot of contradictions,” and that the “visit came in accordance with the rules using Iraqi passports. The military uniform is an expression of solidarity with the Lebanese and Palestinian people against the common enemy."

Hariri's office said the prime minister contacted security officials to investigate the incident and prevent any person or group from carrying out any military activities on Lebanese territory.