Hezbollah unperturbed by Rifi’s warnings on Syria
The Daily Star/Feb. 23, 2015
BEIRUT: Hezbollah looked unperturbed Sunday after Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi condemned the party’s continued involvement in Syria’s 4-year-old civil war, saying Hezbollah was “on the road to suicide” and will “regret their decision to fight.” “Hezbollah has committed a strategic mistake with its military involvement in Syria,” Rifi said in comments published Sunday by Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai. Rifi argued that Hezbollah is paying a huge price for its involvement, and increasing numbers of its fighters are being killed. The minister also revealed that he intends to propose a clause forbidding foreign involvement into the national anti-terror strategy being discussed in talks between the Future Movement and Hezbollah. The rival parties are currently holding dialogue sessions aimed at easing tensions.
“Hezbollah should know that this is a primary issue in the national anti-terror strategy, that we will criminalize any fighting by Lebanese outside of Lebanon,” Rifi said.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah announced on May 25, 2013, that his party had joined the Syrian regime in their fight against rebels. The group has been widely criticized for the move, particularly as it has exacerbated the spillover of rebel groups into Lebanon, including ISIS and the Nusra Front, who pose a serious threat to the country’s security. Speaking at a commemoration of the anniversary of his father’s assassination earlier this month, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri also called on Hezbollah to withdraw from Syria. Hariri said he refused to allow Lebanon to be dragged into regional conflict.
Rifi’s criticism comes following a speech by Nasrallah on Feb. 16. “If Sayyed Nasrallah harbors the delusion that he will win, then he doesn’t know how to read history,” Rifi said when asked about the Hezbollah chief’s invitation for his rivals to join the fight in Syria and Iraq. “In my opinion, Hezbollah is on the road to suicide.” Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, deputy head of Hezbollah’s executive council, seemed unperturbed by the comments. “We have decided not to be dragged into political bickering or provocative and sectarian disputes,” he said, in an indirect response to Rifi.
Qaouk explained the decision was a result of the party’s commitment to the Future Movement-Hezbollah dialogue. “We understand those targeting Hezbollah,” Qaouk said, speaking at a ceremony for party member Hussein Qaoun, who was killed in Syria. “They’re expressing disappointment at the failure of [their] bets in Syria and the continuation of the dialogue.” Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad said that combating extremism is combating Israel, which he claimed was promoting extremist takfiri groups. “Takrifi terrorism doesn’t have a clear-cut project that it’s trying to achieve, in Syria or anywhere else,” he said, speaking at a memorial ceremony for the late journalist Arafat Hijazi in Hussaineyet Aita al-Jabal in south Lebanon.
“It’s a criminal and aggressive predisposition that defies human logic.”Raad added that foreign powers use extremist groups and assaults by Israel to pursue their own interests. Mohammad Fneish, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Hezbollah member, explained that it was impossible for his party to remain disassociated given the current situation in the region. Speaking at a Hezbollah political meeting in the southern town of Ramadieh, Fneish said that the Jan. 18 airstrike in Qunaitra that killed six Hezbollah members and an Iranian general unveiled Israel’s deep role in the Syrian conflict. “Lebanon’ security is threatened by the presence of these takrifi groups along the border, but it’s less affected by them for several reasons,” Fneish noted, referring to Hezbollah fighters. “On the ground there’s a resistance force exerting every effort.”
