US Seeking to Create Security Problems in Lebanon: Hezbollah
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Hezbollah’s second-in-command Sheikh Naim Qassem said the US is seeking to take advantage of Lebanon’s anti-government protests and create “security problems”, adding that the resistance movement will not fall into a civil war that Washington is longing for in the Arab country.
“The first obstruction in the formation of the government is America because it wants a government that resembles it and we want a government that resembles the Lebanese people,” Sheikh Qassem told Reuters on Saturday.
US officials had been in direct contact with Lebanese politicians and officials, the official said, adding, “Let them leave us alone so we can reach an understanding among ourselves. The more they intervene the more they delay the solution.”
Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri resigned in late October amid nationwide protests against corruption and economic adversity that had begun earlier that month.
Asked why Hezbollah and its allies had not opted to form a cabinet on their own, the Lebanese resistance movement’s deputy secretary-general said the movement preferred the prime minister be chosen through agreement with the main parties.
“There are continuous contacts between Hezbollah and Prime Minister Hariri to pick the prime minister,” he said.
Sheikh Qassem said the first step towards dealing with the crisis would be the formation of a government that should start by implementing an emergency economic plan after amending it if necessary.
The causes of the crisis included bad policies and corruption, he said.
“We support the people 100% in putting the corrupt on trial,” he said. “The corrupt must stand trial in Lebanon regardless of who they are ... we support all measures that limit corruption and that recover looted wealth.”
The senior Hezbollah official warned against Washington’s attempt to create chaos in the country and said, “I do not see signs of a civil war in Lebanon. Hezbollah is determined not to fall into strife that America wants. But we have information of American attempts to create some security problems”.
On Tuesday, protesters blocked roads leading to the parliament in the capital Beirut, forcing the legislature to postpone what was supposed to be its first session in two months. Heavy clashes were reported later that day between security forces and a group of protesters attempting to make their way into the parliament.
