Hizbullah says has enough weapons to defend Lebanon
Organization will not be harmed even if arms smuggling on Syrian border stop, Nasrallah's advisor tells London-based newspaper; adds his group will agree to disarm if decision is made in referendum
Roee Nahmias
Hizbullah has "enough weapons to defend Lebanon against Israel's aggressiveness," Hassan Nasrallah's advisor said in an interview published Monday by the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat.
According to the man, Hussein Halil, those weapons would never be used during a civil war in Lebanon.
Halil addressed the organization's rearming by smuggling arms to Lebanon through Syria.
"We object the fact that the border between Syria and Lebanon is being supervised, but in any event the weapons possessed by Hizbullah will not run out if the border is closed," he said.
During the interview, Halil stressed that his organization was willing to disarm, if the majority of Lebanese residents demand that it do so through a referendum, which Nasrallah has been calling for.
"We are ready to hold a referendum on anything, on anything they want, even on the political direction," he said.
He added, "Before the idea of a referendum was raised, Nasrallah proposed the issue of the defense strategy for a national dialogue (a political move initiated in Lebanon on the eve of the summer war – R.N.).
"The Hizbullah leader told everyone that he was willing to discuss any agreement that would provide security to Lebanon and the Lebanese out of logic, truth and justice. There is a logic saying that there is an enemy occupying our land for the past 30 years and it was not willing to leave, only after being forced to do so with the weapons possessed by a small and helpless country.
"What was the crime committed by Hizbullah which Prime Minister Fouad Siniora bragged about?" he asked.
According to several reports in Lebanon, Hizbullah is becoming stronger. The al-Anba weekly, for example, reported a number of days ago, quoting "senior security sources," that Hizbullah was preparing a "new military plan" supported by Iran.
It was also reported that the plan included the establishment of military bases, fortifications and underground networks in Beirut and in a number of areas in southern Lebanon, military and combat training courses, use of new technology and advanced munitions (i.e. Fajr-3 and Zelzal-1 rockets as well as antitank missile launchers) and trainings on gliders and drones.
Hizbullah says has enough weapons to defend Lebanon
