Hizbullah Fighting in Syria, its Enemies Already Are!

Samer R. Zoughaib*

Stern deprecations have just soared in Lebanon and abroad to lash out at Hizbullah's implication in the Syrian conflict. Notwithstanding, those criticizing the participation of the Resistance in battles in determined regions in Syria have been turning, for two years now, a blind eye to the involvement of Lebanese and extremists from around the world in the war.

The Syrian crisis erupted in March 2011, 27 months ago. For the first two years, Hizbullah has called, and still calls, for peaceful solution. The party's Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has repeatedly exhorted protagonists not to resort to arms, but to sit around a dialogue table. It's been three months, Hizbullah has changed its attitude and announced its participation in the battles taking place in some regions.

1- According to reports by the United Nations, and Lebanese, Arab, and western intelligence services, a large part of weapons reaching Syrian rebels in Damascus center and around Damascus, the most active fronts, were transferred via Lebanon. The Lebanese army and security services have seized enormous quantities of weapons of all kinds destined to gunmen in Syria. The most important confiscation was that of 60 tons of arms and munitions aboard Lutafallah II ship, in May 2012. This Libya-sourced arsenal was to be discharged in Tripoli seaport, before heading to Syria.

2- Many reports by intelligence services and investigative journalists indicated that Lebanon, alongside Turkey, constituted the privileged crossing point by the world's extremists--from 29 countries, according to a report by the US--who would then fight alongside Syrian rebels. In Lebanon, these volunteers were accommodated and transported by Lebanese political parties, such as Future Movement and other extremist groups based in the North and in some Palestinian refugees' camps.

3- For several months, March 14 forces led a campaign against the Lebanese army, in order to loosen its vigilance and keep a low profile about North Lebanon. This tactic aimed to turn this region into a safe haven for Syrian rebels.
Indeed, training camps were set up in distant regions in Akkar and Wadi Khaled. Towns were turned into bases for Syrian rebels. Moreover, a hospital in Tripoli was put at the disposal of wounded rebels. Thousands of injured fighters were also admitted to hospitals in Chtaura and Baalbeck.

4- Hundreds of Lebanese fighters and hardliner Palestinians from Lebanon are also fighting alongside rebels in Syria. Informed sources reported that 14 among them, sent to fight by Salafist cleric Dai al-Islam al-Shahhal, were killed in an ambush on the Syrian soil nearby Tall Kalakh, in November 2012. This incident made the headlines due to the high number of casualties. Besides, tens of Lebanese were killed in the battles inside Syria.

5- Lebanese media revealed, with available recordings as evidence, that MP Oqab Saqr had been tasked by Future Movement leader, Saad Hariri, with funding and gearing up rebels. Saqr left Lebanon two years ago and settled down between Belgium and Istanbul, to organize the money and weapons transfer operations.

6- A vast network of Lebanese newspapers, radios, televisions, and websites has mobilized to convey information advantageous to rebels but hostile to the Syrian government. This network constitutes one of the key links of global ring which errand is the required propaganda.

7- Tens of Syrian rebels, arrested in Lebanon for arms possession, were immediately released after the intervention of high-ranking political authorities, which have undertaken, before the West, to facilitate the movements of the Syrian opposition in Lebanon, in violation of all the cooperation agreements inked between Lebanon and Syria.

In a nutshell, since two years and still counting, Lebanon has been downright the back front of the Syrian rebellion.
When Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah announced that the party was fighting in Syria, all these political figures and parties, in turn implicated in the conflict, accused the leader of the resistance of dragging Lebanon into catastrophe.

However, Hizbullah's intervention is perfectly justified, mostly considering the obligation to protect some 30 000 Lebanese living in west Orontes, on the Syrian soil. If they were left to their fate, they would have had to abandon their towns.
But Hizbullah has recently decided to implicate in the battle for the following reasons:

1- Extremist groups were seeking to make a border belt to be under their control, enjoying a geographical depth into Arsal and Wadi Khaled, after taking hold of Lebanese-populated towns in Qusayr's countryside and displacing tenants. This would lead to closing land passage towards Homs and hence put the entire Bekaa region under the mercy of extremists.

2- Rebels sought to take over Damascus airport and the road leading to it.

3- "Israel" directly interfered in the conflict when it bombed Damascus and its vicinity in order to, according to its tally, cut off supplying the Resistance in Lebanon.

Ever since, it has become clear to Hizbullah that the military action of rebels, undoubtedly advised by the West, aimed to tighten the noose around the Resistance.

This is when the Resistance decided to react to topple this scheme. In his last speech delivered on the occasion of the Resistance and Liberation Day on May 25, Sayyed Nasrallah explained the why and wherefores of the party's decision. "A faction of the Syrian opposition supports dialogue, but another faction endeavors in favor for the US and Israeli intelligence services," he said. "The spiraling radical movements constitute a threat, not just for the Shias in Lebanon, but also for all the Lebanese, whether Muslims or Christians," he added.

Syria represents an essential support for the Resistance. Syria is the backbone of the Resistance. The Resistance cannot remain cross-handed. If we do not react, we are idiots. If the regime of Bashar Assad falls, the Resistance will be weakened, which will allow "Israel" to control Lebanon and seal resistance movements in Palestine for good, he continued.

The leader of the Resistance has been transparent and sincere. Can his enemies and detractors pretend they are too?

*Translated from french.alahednews by website team