Nasrallah Reiterates Support for Assad, Criticizes SNC

In his first public appearance since 2008, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to stand by Bashar al-Assad, saying “From the very beginning, we have made it clear that we stand by the (Syrian) regime, a regime of resistance.” Nasrallah also criticized the Syrian National Council for aiming to “destroy Syria.” “The so-called Syrian National Council, formed in Istanbul, and its leader Burhan Ghaliun … are trying to present their credentials to the United States and Israel,” Nasrallah said. He warned people protesting against al-Assad to “be careful [because] they are being used to serve [Washington’s] project in the Middle East.”

Nasrallah also accused the United States of “igniting sectarian strife” and trying to destroy Syria: “There are some who don’t want civil peace or stability and want to destroy Syria. There are some who want to make up for their defeat in Iraq and their inevitable loss in any change in the situation in Syria for the benefit of Israel.”