Hezbollah's Raad says Iran 'regional deterrent force, like it or not'
Hundreds of people rallied outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut Wednesday, responding to a call from Hezbollah to celebrate "the culmination of the struggle and sacrifices" of the Iranian people "who triumphed over the Israeli-American aggression".
Ahmed Mohebbi, 42, who was among the crowd, said: "We are very happy about this victory that Iran achieved, despite the hits it took and attacks by America and Israel to prevent it from continuing its nuclear program.
"Our steadfastness is a victory," he told AFP.
The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc Mohammad Raad said in a speech that Iran is today "a regional deterrent force, like it or not."
"It proved this with its steadfastness" and by standing up against "a tyrannical enemy who sought to impose its hegemony on the whole region," he said.
Iran has backed Hezbollah since the group's founding in the 1980s, providing it with financial and military support.
The group was severely weakened in its latest confrontation with Israel, which killed most of its top leadership and destroyed much of its arsenal.
Source: Agence France Presse
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