Hezbollah leader says group will stay in Syria until further notice

Hassan Nasrallah indicated the number of fighters would be reduced as warzone become more quiet

epa07033287 A tv grab handout photo from Hezbollah's al-Manar TV shows Hezbollah leader Sayed Hassan Nasrallah giving a televised address during the tenth night of the month of Muharram (Ashura) in Southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, 19 September 2018. Nasrallah spoke about the situations in Lebanon and the Arabic countries like Syria and Yemen. Shiite Muslims across the world are observing Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The climax of Muharram is the Ashura festival commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed in the Iraqi city of Karbala in the seventh century.  EPA/AL-MANAR TV GRAB / HANDOUT  HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
Powered by automated translation

The leader of Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah, a key Damascus ally, said on Wednesday that his group would keep its military presence in Syria until further notice, commending a Russian-Turkish deal over Idlib as a step towards a broader political solution.

But Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah indicated the number of fighters of the powerful Shi’ite group would be reduced as fronts across Syria become more quiet.

“We will stay there [in Syria] even after the settlement in Idlib. Our presence there is linked to the need and the consent of the Syrian leadership,” he said in a televised address to hundreds of cheering followers in southern Beirut on the eve of the annual Ashura religious rally.

_______________

Read more:

US report says Iran is top terror sponsor while global attacks fall

Hezbollah is flaunting its support for Yemen’s Houthis

Lebanese politicians should avoid ruffling feathers in Washington by appeasing Hezbollah

_______________

“The quietness of the fronts and less number of threats.. will naturally affect the current numbers [of Hezbollah fighters],” he added. “Syria is heading to a great calm”.

Ashura, the holiest day of the Shi’ite calendar, falls on Thursday. It commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, and is marked by large public processions.

Hezbollah has provided vital support to Syria’s military in the seven-year war, helping it regain swathes of the country. “We will stay there until further notice,” Mr Nasrallah said.

He also commended the outcome of the Iranian, Russian and Turkish diplomacy to spare Idlib a military offensive that could have led to a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

On Monday, Russian and Turkey agreed to rule out a military solution in the Idlib region, the opposition’s last big foothold in Syria along with adjoining territory north of Aleppo, in favour of enforcing a new demilitarised zone from which “radical” rebels will be required to withdraw by the middle of next month.

“The outcome [of the diplomatic efforts] is good and reasonable but depends on results,” Mr Nasrallah said, describing the agreement as a step towards reaching a political solution to the conflict.

Russia, the biggest outside backer of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in his fight against rebels, has been preparing for an offensive on the city of Idlib, controlled by rebels.

The United Nations had warned such an attack would create a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib province, where about three million people live.

President Assad has recovered other areas once held by rebels, with decisive military support from Iran and Russia.