Nasrallah makes public appearance, says region to witness escalation

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Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made a public appearance on Tuesday and delivered a speech marking the eve of Ashoura at the Sayyed al-Shohada Complex.

Nasrallah started his speech by stressing that the region is witnessing escalation and tensions, "contrary to the situation that prevailed several months ago."

He also noted that the US withdrew from the agreement on a ceasefire in Syria when it “realized that striking the al-Nusra Front would weaken the rest of the armed groups.”

He also accused the US of seeking to amass Islamic State militants in eastern Syria, adding that the US allowed IS fighters to leave Iraq for Syria during the latest operations in Iraq.

“The Americans want the IS to leave Mosul to head towards Syria’s Raqqa,” he added.

Nasrallah, who sent fighters to Syria to battle alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accused also Saudi Arabia and some regional countries of blocking the political solutions in Syria.

He also said that some sides want to divide Syria to "serve Israel's interests."

Nasrallah called on the Saudi rulers to "return to their senses."

Turning to the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, Nasrallah stressed the importance of preserving peace and security in the country.

He also called on "allies and friends" to return to the government in a return for commitment to the National Pact and national partnership.

Nasrallah also said that serious efforts must be deployed to resume the parliament's legislative role.

Hezbollah's leader stressed that there are agreements between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Future Movement.

"Where is the problem in making agreements with Speaker Nabih Berri, Marada leader MP Sleiman Frangieh and the rest of the allies?" he asked.

As for Aoun's candidacy for the presidency, Nasrallah said “Hezbollah's choice has always been clear.”

"I don't understand the link between condemning the Saudi strike in Yemen and harming MP Michel Aoun's presidential chances," he added.

On Saturday, aerial attacks by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen's capital Saana which killed over 140 people and injured more than 525 others, were the latest disasters in the Yemen conflict, which has left over 20 million people "an astounding 80 percent of the population" in need of humanitarian aid.

Lebanon has been plunged into a presidential vacuum since the mandate of president Michel Sleiman ended in May 2014 and Hezbollah, MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Frangieh for the presidency.

However, his suggestion was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hezbollah.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Frangieh to become Lebanon’s next president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.

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