Hezbollah denies involvement in Beirut UNIFIL vehicle torching
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Hezbollah's Liaison and Coordination Unit head, Wafiq Safa, denied any involvement in the attack on UNIFIL near Beirut’s airport road.
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In this June 23, 2017 photo, Wafiq Safa, the head of Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit, attends a rally to mark Al-Quds day, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon (AP)
The head of Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit, Wafiq Safa, denied any involvement of the party in the recent incident involving a UNIFIL vehicle near the airport road, stressing that "Hezbollah maintains good relations with UNIFIL, and coordination between them is complete." He described the incident as "unacceptable."
Speaking to Al Mayadeen on Saturday evening, Safa clarified that "there is a difference between a peaceful protest expressing opposition to the decision to ban the Iranian plane and the attack on UNIFIL," emphasizing that Hezbollah had no connection to the event.
He also addressed Lebanese authorities and the army, saying, "Look at the people's situation and do not pressure them further," referring to the ongoing economic hardships and tensions in the country.
Regarding the Israeli withdrawal from border villages and the deadline set for February 18, Safa stated that "this matter, along with the handling of the ceasefire monitoring committee, is left to the state."
In this context, he confirmed that Hezbollah would determine its stance based on the outcome of communications and the committee's actions. He noted that this position would be announced by Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, during the funeral of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on February 23.
Hezbollah rejects foreign dominance in Lebanon
The Deputy Head of Hezbollah’s Political Council, Mahmoud Qomati, reaffirmed on Saturday the party’s rejection of any US dominance over Lebanon, stressing that “patience has its limits.”
In a speech delivered at a protest site near Beirut Airport Road, which was called for by Hezbollah against foreign interference in the country's affairs, Qomati stated that “the Lebanese state remains under US diktats, and we do not accept that this nation be under American and Israeli control.”
He added that “the ban on Iranian planes landing at Beirut Airport is an insult to the Lebanese state and confirms the imposition of US conditions on it.” He further emphasized that “Iran is a friendly state” and that Hezbollah “will not accept foreign diktats.”
Lebanese protesters blocked the road to Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Thursday evening in response to the refusal to allow an Iranian plane to land, leaving its Lebanese passengers stranded in Tehran.
Calls to protest and block the airport road spread across social media, condemning the decision.
Addressing Lebanese politicians, Qomati said: “If you choose to submit, the resistance’s people reject the American and Israeli humiliation policy and will not accept it.”
Regarding the situation on the southern border, he stressed that “the resistance remains committed to ensuring the enemy’s withdrawal from the south and will not accept any official stance that extends the enemy’s presence on our land.”
During the protest, the Lebanese army fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators, resulting in cases of fainting among the protesters. Gunfire was also heard in the area.
