BEIRUT: Hezbollah will not be participating in an international coalition tasked with fighting terrorism in Iraq and Syria, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad said Sunday, arguing that the plan is neither serious nor sufficient.
“We are not part of any international coalition, and we are not convinced by the seriousness of this alliance,” Raad said Sunday during a Hezbollah ceremony.
“Heading this coalition is a state that represents terrorism in this modern world,” the Hezbollah MP said, in reference to the U.S, which won backing from 10 Arab States, including Lebanon, for a planned attack against terrorists who have claimed swaths of land across Iraq and Syria.
Hezbollah was at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts, Raad said, stressing that the party was the first to confront the terrorist threat.
“We were the first to face the [the terrorists] before international investors conjured a confrontation plan,” Raad said, emphasizing that the planned assault would appear to be “deficient” as soon as it is implemented.
Raad rejected any foreign counterterrorism effort, saying that the Lebanese could protect their own communities through their “unity and clarity of vision” and by standing as “one man” against terrorist groups.
Raad slammed those sympathizing with terrorists, urging them not to make the act of defending them “more costly” to the Lebanese Army by lending their support to militant groups.
“Every week, they kill a soldier to blackmail the state,” Raad said, referring to Nusra Front and ISIS militants who are still holding at least 21 policemen and soldiers captive after capturing over 30 hostages during an attack on the northeastern town of Arsal earlier this month.
Nusra executed an Army soldier late night Friday, while ISIS militants have beheaded two captives in the past month.
The Hezbollah MP argued that the killing of the captives serves to damage the “prestige” of Lebanon’s judicial and military institutions, urging citizens to stand in solidarity with the Army.
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