Sayyed Nasrallah Announces the Arrival of the First Oil Ship
Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, stresses that all bets that doubted the fulfillment of the promise and hoped that the Israelis would target the ships have failed.
Nasrallah welcomes the new government
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Nasrallah welcomed the formation of the new government in Lebanon and thanked everyone who contributed to this achievement.
In a speech on Monday, Sayyed Nasrallah thanked the caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab for his patience and for shouldering the responsibility incumbent on him. He mentioned that the new government's priority should be to save the country from its collapse, with efforts exerted toward making reforms and improving people's livelihood.
He supported making the necessary preparation for the parliamentary elections, calling for holding them on time and for the completion of the ministerial statement to attain the necessary confidence and get the country out of its crises. He also called for solidarity and giving the government a chance before pinning any judgments.
Iranian ships head to Syria
Regarding the oil ship heading from Iran to Lebanon, Nasrallah detailed what happened, revealing that there were two options concerning the destination of the first ship, either Lebanon or Syria.
In order not to pressure any party, a decision was made to send the ship to Syria who agreed to receive it, facilitate its movement at Banias port, take care of the transportation process along the borders, and secure the fuel tanks, explained Nasrallah
The arrival of the first ship
Nasrallah announced the arrival of the first derivatives ship at the Syrian port of Banias on Sunday night, adding that the process of unloading the cargo ends today.
He revealed that the oil derivatives would be transferred to the Bekaa, next Thursday, adding that the materials will be stored in special tanks in Baalbeck.
Nasrallah addressed the media controversy that occurred after announcing that the ship sailed, referring to the bets of some who considered that the promise of sending ships is mere media talk. In addition, he saw that all the doubtful bets and hopes that the Israelis would target the ships had failed.
"The Israelis were in a dilemma, and it was the existing deterrence equation that protected and allowed the arrival of the first ship safely," Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Don't put your bets on a losing side
Sayyed Nasrallah announced that the bets on the Americans have failed, as they could not prevent the ships from arriving despite the mounting pressures and threats. He also stressed that staking on discord between Hezbollah and the state has gone in vain thanks to the understanding of the Syrian state.
He said that the ship that arrived carries diesel, announcing that the second ship will arrive in a few days to Baniyas, stressing that all administrative prerequisites have been completed to send the third ship that will carry gasoline from Iran.
He added that the fourth ship, which will be sent later, will carry diesel due to the onset of winter.
Hezbollah doesn't aim for trade or profit
Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah does not aim for trade or profit from these ships, but rather to help alleviate the people's suffering, stressing as well that all of Lebanon will benefit from the material.
Regarding the method of delivery, Nasrallah mentioned that there is a specific mechanism planned out and that there are no goals to compete with anyone.
The entities that will receive diesel in the form of donations are government hospitals, elderly homes, orphanages, special needs facilities, water institutions, and poor municipalities that have water wells, not to mention Civil Defense regiments and the Lebanese Red Cross, Nasrallah explained.
Nasrallah pointed out that diesel for the remaining entities will be provided for an appropriate price, based on certain priorities.
He explained that this group includes private hospitals, serum laboratories, bakeries, and coops, as well as food, equipment, and agricultural machinery plants.
We will bear a large part of the cost
Nasrallah confirmed that the materials for the second group will be sold at a price lower than the cost, stressing that there are no private sales for the moment.
He added that the main focus will primarily be on the US-sanctioned Al-Amanah Company for distribution and that other companies will be considered later on. Nasrallah explained that the quantities of fuel will be distributed in batches to expand the benefit further, stressing that there will be a focus on municipalities' unions.
Sayyed Nasrallah confirmed that the materials should reach the authorities that deserve them, and not the black market, adding that they will bear the burden of a large part of the cost in the face of greed and monopoly in the country.
He stressed that the materials will be sold at less than the cost price, because there are no intentions of profit, considering the loss, from their side, as a form of aid from Hezbollah and Iran. He added that they will announce the official price for selling diesel next Wednesday or Thursday, aiming to stop the black market and the greed of monopolists.
Sayyed Nasrallah called on the Lebanese army to be the guarantor of distributing the subsidized materials to the people.
Absence of media coverage
Regarding the absence of media coverage from the ship's course, he said that it was intended to avoid any provocations.
We are not after any political exploitation, because we want "to eat grapes, not to kill the guard, Hezbollah Secretary-General stressed.
Blessings of the ship's course
Nasrallah considered that one of the blessings of the ships' trajectory was that it opened new doors, especially after the direct American actions. He also welcomed the visit of the official Lebanese delegation to Syria that handled the situation with openness and love despite the delicacy of the matter.
The Secretary-General said that the fuel replaced with Iraqi oil is supposed to arrive soon, also thanking the Iraqi government.
Speaking about the ration card approved by the Lebanese government a few days ago, Sayyed Nasrallah considered that there is fear that the card will open a new door for looting, theft, corruption, politicization, and political employment.
Freedom Tunnel Operation has great significance
Sayyed Nasrallah talked about the six Palestinian prisoners who managed to snatch their freedom, considering that the Freedom Tunnel Operation, which was carried out by these Palestinian heroes, has great and very important implications.
He stressed that this operation reflects the creativity of these heroes and the pride of every honest person. Furthermore, he considered that the operation holds therein significant implications and an important message that clearly reflects the Palestinian determination for freedom.
Nasrallah stressed that re-arresting four of the 6 prisoners does not in any way diminish the success of the operation, adding that the remaining two are the responsibility of all Palestinians.
On the occasion of the 16th anniversary of liberating the Gaza Strip, Sayyed Nasrallah welcomed it as a great victory for the resistance, which is the right path for everyone to endorse.
He considered that the liberation of the Gaza Strip has turned it into a base for resistance and a reflection of great hope for all the people of Palestine.
When the blood of the resistance and army officers mixes
Commemorating the anniversary of September 13, 1993, in the southern suburbs, Sayyed Nasrallah said that the protesters against the Oslo Accord were shot in the head, yet none of the participants tried to respond and shoot the security forces at any time, "despite that our sons and daughters were killed."
Nasrallah added that the people have cut off the path to the strife that some wanted and worked for, adding that later "our blood mixed with the blood of the army", stressing that they were very patient over that great ordeal in order to ward off the strife that some aimed at with the army.
On the confrontation that took place in Jabal al-Rafi, in southern Lebanon, in which a group of resistance fighters and the Lebanese army were martyred, including the son of Hezbollah Secretary-General, the martyr Hadi Nasrallah and the captain in the Lebanese army, Jawad Azar, Sayyed Nasrallah said that the blood of the resistance mixed with the blood of army officers, and this led to our victory.