REPORT: Nasrallah: If need be, I will personally go to Syria to fight...

6^min

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah expressed on Friday his condolences to the families of the victims who were killed in Thursday's Roueis blast, commending the restraint practiced by the residents of south Beirut in the wake of the explosion and calling for executing a plan to fight off the sectarian and terrorist plot drafted against both Lebanon and the region.

Commenting on the attack that targeted the region of Roueis in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs on Thursday evening, Hezbollah chief said that the attack only targeted civilians and the perpetrators’ plan was to cause as much damage to the area as possible, stressing that the bomb used weighed at over 100 KG of TNT.

He pointed out that both explosions that targeted the Dahiyeh area (in reference to Thursday’s blast and the Bir al-abed explosion of the 9th of July) were placed in civilian areas, rejecting the accusations launched against Hezbollah by some Lebanese parties that said that the Shiite party was behind the July attack.

“We never reacted to the many rounds of violence that targeted the Dahiyeh region; attacks that included bomb explosions and rocket launching,” he said, revealing that those who implemented the said attacks, as well as those who planted bombs on the Hermel road have been identified and belong to Takfiri groups, adding that some of them have been arrested and turned out to be of different nationalities; some Lebanese, others Syrians and Palestinians.

“Takfirist groups all work under the wing of Israel, US intelligence and some regional powers; they target Sunnis, Shiites, Christians and they blow up both Mosques and Churches. They do not believe in a country, but have one objective: to kill and destroy,” he explained, saying that speculations on whether the Dahiyeh attack was conducted by a suicide bomber can neither be confirmed nor denied, but accusing on the other hand those who in turn pointed the fingers at Sunnis of being behind it.

In this regard, he stressed that Takfirist groups should not enjoy political cover or protection, "not only for the sake of south Beirut but for Lebanon as a whole," adding that the party destroying the region is also keen on destroying Lebanon.

While he said that the conflict should remain purely political and not be steered toward sectarian sedition, he called on the all parties to maintain utmost restraint in the face of all these attacks.

“Those who say that we are paying the price for our involvement in the Syrian crisis should first look at their actions,” Nasrallah said, stressing that Hezbollah did not murder civilians while fighting in Syria and that all the related accusations are only lies fabricated by Arab media outlets.

"Hezbollah fighters sent to Syria will double in size, should the need arise," he fervently said.

“If need be, I will personally go to Syria to fight against the terrorist Takfirist groups and we will be victorious in our battle against terrorism," he said.

During a televised speech delivered on the occasion of the anniversary of the end of the 2006 war, Nasrallah addressed the residents of the southern Lebanese town of Aita Chaab saying: “Your perseverance exemplifies the resistance' spirit”, noting that Hezbollah fighters were asked to move from the said town in 2006, but refused and remained on the front lines for 33 days.

Nasrallah added that the Israeli army could not withstand the fighters of the Resistance and remain in Lebanon, "which is the weakest country in the Middle East," stressing that the Resistance achieved two victories, one in May 25th, 2000 with the withdrawal of the Israeli army and another in August 14th, 2006 with the victory achieved.

“Up until this day, Israel is still mending its wounds following its defeat in the 2006 war against the Resistance,” he stated, stressing that Lebanon's most precious asset lies within the "army, people, resistance" formula also known as the "golden triangle".

“We will build our homes right by the barbed wire and preserve both our land and water, and other natural resources, and the Labbouneh incident was our way to prove that it is no longer acceptable for an Israeli soldier to set foot onto Lebanese soil,” Nasrallah said, noting that the victory achieved in the 2006 war demonstrates Hezbollah's ability to defeat "the enemy”.

Gunfire was heard in Beirut's Dahiyeh as Nasrallah delivered his speech, in a show of solidarity with the Hezbollah top man.

To watch the full speech, please click on the video above

To watch excerpts of Nasrallah's speech, please click on this link