Hezbollah warns Syria chaos could hit Lebanon
A Hezbollah delegation warned after meeting Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai Monday that the turmoil in Syria could spill over into Lebanon and called on rival Lebanese factions not to interfere in internal Syrian affairs.
“The circumstances through which our country is passing are calm now. But the circumstances in the region within which we live are difficult, harsh and complicated,” Sheikh Mohammad Amr, head of the Hezbollah delegation, told reporters after the meeting with Rai in Bkirki, the seat of the influential Catholic Maronite Church, north of Beirut.
“We fear the [regional] conflict will spread to Lebanon. But with your wisdom and the wisdom of Lebanese leaders on whom we call to use reason and logic in their political movement and dialogue to stay away from interfering in others’ affairs because Lebanon cannot afford any political, military or security trouble,” Amr added.
Describing the situation in Lebanon as “delicate,” he said: “Lebanon carries a message. This message must be expressed through dialogue and logic and not by any other means.”
The popular uprising in Syria against the regime of President Bashar Assad, now in its 10th month, has sharply split the Lebanese. The Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance backs the Assad regime, while the opposition March 14 coalition, led by the Future Movement of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, has come out in support of Syrian protesters demanding Assad’s ouster.
The Lebanese government, which is dominated by Hezbollah and its March 8 allies, has followed a policy of dissociating itself from U.N. or Arab League resolutions condemning Syria over its brutal crackdown on protesters.
The Hezbollah delegation visited Rai to congratulate him on Christmas and the New Year. The meeting was also attended by former Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. The delegation said it hoped Rai would continue to reach out to all Lebanese.
“We are part of this loving nation with its diversity because this is the message of Lebanon. We are a key component of this beloved and blessed nation,” Amr said.
Meanwhile, Hariri warned that the credibility of the Arab League observer mission in Syria was at stake and slammed once more Assad over the way he was handling his country’s crisis.