Nasrallah Warns Saudi against Stirring 'Internal Confrontations', Backing Kurdish Secession

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday warned Saudi Arabia against stirring what he called “internal confrontations” in Lebanon or backing any Kurdish bid for independence in Iraq.

“We call for preserving the current stability in the country and the current state of calm, communication, dialogue and rapprochement among the various forces,” said Nasrallah in a televised speech marking the ninth night of the Shiite Ashura commemorations.

“We faced a dangerous crisis after the Constitutional Council’s ruling on the new wage scale… and the country faced a dangerous juncture, but shunning confrontation and keenness on reaching solutions enabled the Lebanese to reach a solution,” Nasrallah noted.

He emphasized that Lebanon’s interest lies in “avoiding any internal confrontation under any excuse.”

“We've heard some reports that some parties are preparing for new political alignments. If they are related to elections, we don't have a problem, but I warn against any attempt to drag Lebanon into an internal confrontation,” Nasrallah said.

“I don't advise anyone to drag Lebanon into internal confrontations, especially Saudi Arabia,” he warned.

As for the conflict with Israel, Hizbullah’s chief said Israel acknowledges that his group is the “second strongest army” in the region.

Addressing Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Nasrallah added: “Your interest lies in returning to your country and real life in your country.”

“Look around you. The Palestinians are clinging to the right of return,” he said.

As for the latest independence referendum in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, Nasrallah warned that “there's a new scheme to fragment the region and it has begun with Iraq’s Kurdistan.

“Saudi Arabia is the nation that is most susceptible to partitioning,” added Nasrallah, warning the kingdom’s leaders against backing the Kurds’ bid for independence.