Sheikh Qassem Underlines Significance of Hezbollah’s Presence in Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement’s second-in-command, Sheikh Naim Qassem, praised the group’s presence in Syria, saying that if it had not been for the Hezbollah forces, north of Lebanon would have fallen into the hands of terrorists.
“I should say to all those who are angry about the weapon of Resistance (Movement) that this weapon has saved your family, home, Lebanon and the region,” Sheikh Qassem said, addressing a ceremony in commemoration of Samir Qantar, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah, who was killed during an Israeli raid which targeted his home in the Syrian city of Jaramana, located 10 kilometers from the capital, Damascus, on December 20.
“I say to all those who are angry about our presence in Syria that if we had not gone to Syria, Qalamoun, Al-Qusayr, Bekaa and other northern parts of Lebanon would have become part of territories of (the so-called) Islamic State (IS),” the cleric noted, referring to the Daesh terrorist group, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
The Syrian army troops backed by Hezbollah fighters have made significant gains against the foreign-backed terrorist groups in the Arab country, such as the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group al-Nusra Front and Daesh.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists currently controlling parts of it, mostly in the east.
The US and its regional allies have been supporting the militants operating inside Syria for nearly five years.