Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah says resistance stronger, better equipped than ever

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah warned on Tuesday Israel against carrying out any act that may lead to stealing Lebanon’s resources out of its territorial waters, and declared that whoever harms the future maritime Lebanese projects, will face the same damage and Israel knows that Lebanon is capable of such damage.

Sayyed Nasrallah said that the steadfastness of the resistance fighters was the most important factor that contributed to the victory achieved against the Israeli enemy in July 2006, in addition to some other factors including the determination, confidence, hope, faith and people’s steadfastness.

His eminence reiterated that the mentioned war has left dangerous repercussions on the Zionist entity and its political present and future, and warned the Israeli enemy of seeking to approach Lebanon again and again. As he promised of achieving victory again in case any war erupts and confirmed that the resistance was nowadays stronger than ever, Sayyed Nasrallah urged the Zionists to abandon their dreams in Lebanon.

Sayyed Nasrallah was speaking through a large TV screen as he addressed crowds in the “Dignity and Victory” Festival at al-Raya Stadium in Beirut’s Southern Suburb, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Divine Victory achieved by the Mujahedeen against the Israeli enemy in the July War 2006.

LEGENDARY STEADFASTNESS… MIRACLE
Sayyed Nasrallah began his speech by thanking the huge crowds who took part in the ceremony. His eminence also saluted the souls of the martyrs of the army, people and resistance as well as their families and those who were wounded in July war. He paid tribute to all those who stood at the side of Lebanon and contributed in the victory that was achieved.

Hezbollah Secretary General said that among the most important factors that contributed to the victory achieved in July 2006 were determination, confidence, hope, faith and people’s steadfastness. His eminence emphasized that the steadfastness of the resistance fighters was the most important factor in this victory, adding that it resembled a real miracle. “How could thousands of Mujahedeen fight night and day all through 33 days in all villages in the face of battalions and tanks, as the sky rained down fire on them,” Sayyed Nasrallah wondered, as he hailed their steadfastness as legendary in the history of the nation.

Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the Israeli enemy started its war in an arrogant and overconfident manner, but in the face of the steadfastness of Lebanon and the resistance fighters, its confidence quickly turned into confusion, weakness, uncertainty and a crisis of confidence among the Israeli leaders, government and people.

STRATEGIC OUTCOME: CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE
While noting that the July 2006 war has left dangerous repercussions on the Zionist entity and its political present and future, Sayyed Nasrallah expressed belief the most important and strategic outcome of the war was the crisis of confidence it has caused among the occupation’s army, political leaders and people.

His eminence said that Israel, backed by the United States, sought since the end of the war to restore this lost confidence, but failed. While reiterating that Israel was seeking to restore its strength at all levels to be able to impose the conditions it wants in the region, Sayyed Nasrallah said that Israeli polls show that Israeli people and politicians believe that major problems uncovered by the July war were not resolved until now.

 

BEYOND HAIFA AND FAR BEYOND HAIFA
“Israel has been staging military drills in a bid to find a military solution to the problem of the falling rockets, which this time will fall beyond Haifa, and far beyond Haifa,” Sayyed Nasrallah declared, as he noted that Israelis believe the Israeli army is unable to protect its internal front in case of any confrontation and that the era in which the Israeli army used to militarily protect its internal front has ended as a result of the July war.

“Imagine that Israelis are seeking to restore confidence through lies and misleading people,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, as he remarked that the Israelis, who previously admitted their failure and defeat in Lebanon, recently started searching for some ‘positive aspects’ or ‘achievements’ made by the war, but in vain.

PERES ‘ACHIEVEMENTS’!
In this context, Sayyed Nasrallah criticized a statement made by Israeli President Shimon Peres, who turned to be the eldest of the Zionists. In his statement, Peres claimed that two achievements were made by the Israelis in the mentioned war: forcing the Secretary General (Sayyed Nasrallah) to enter the bunker and preventing him of freely moving as well as preserving calm on the northern borders of occupied Palestine.

As for the first so-called ‘achievement’, Sayyed Nasrallah questioned its usefulness. His eminence recalled that this ‘achievement’ was not even set in the list of objectives set by the Israeli enemy ahead of the war, none of which has been achieved. Sayyed Nasrallah also wondered if it was logical that a 33-day fierce war erupt only to prevent somebody of going out and forcing him to enter the bunker. “None of the war's objectives was achieved and our detainees returned with heads held high,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, addressing Peres.

Turning to the second so-called ‘achievement’, i.e. preserving calm on the borders of occupied Palestine with Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah also undermined it, as he recalled that the border with Lebanon was calm since he Resistance and Liberation of 2000. “The quiet along the border was imposed by the Resistance through the balance of deterrence and the balance of terror in 2000,” Sayyed Nasrallah said. “The Israelis who are speaking of calm have forgotten that they are the occupiers who have been stealing the natural resources,” his eminence went on to say.

Sayyed Nasrallah recalled that the Resistance was not a project of war, as some are seeking to portray it. “The Resistance's mission is to defend its land and the dignity of its people,” his eminence pointed out.

MAJOR EFFORTS TO TARNISH IMAGE OF RESISTANCE
Turning to the other side, Hezbollah Secretary General noted that the public opinion’s confidence in the resistance has risen since the end of the July 2006 war despite all attempts to tarnish its image. Sayyed Nasrallah noted that major efforts have been exerted to question the Resistance and distort its image, and millions of dollars were spent for that purpose following the purpose.

His eminence put the recent accusations against resistance fighters in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri’s case in this framework. “The Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s accusations against Resistance fighters and the fabricated articles about the party are part of these efforts,” Sayyed Nasrallah said. “They aim at tarnishing the image of the Resistance and doubting its credibility and mission,” he went on to say.

RESISTANCE STRONGER THAN EVER
To conclude with this topic, Sayyed Nasrallah declared that the Resistance is today stronger than ever at all levels and stressed that the enemy was aware of this reality. “Our faith in God and in our determination cannot be shaken and I reassure you that, today, the Resistance is stronger than ever in terms of its consolidation, cadres and capabilities,” his eminence said. “The resistance in Lebanon, in terms of its intelligence, unity, courage, cadres and material resources is stronger and better than at any other time since its establishment.”

Sayyed Nasrallah said that Israelis started imitating the Resistance’s own tactics and they came out some days ago to promise Lebanese of surprises in next war. “The Israelis have said that they are preparing “surprises” for the Lebanese. This is a failed attempt to imitate us,” his eminence said. “We will not be surprised. You are the ones who were surprised and I tell you that your generals will only taste defeat in Lebanon and the commander of your northern front has four bullets in his chest after he was ambushed by the Islamic Resistance fighters.”

ISRAELIS MUST ABANDON THEIR DREAMS
Hezbollah Secretary General vowed that Israelis will not get other than defeat in Lebanon, and urged them to listen to their generals who experienced defeat in Lebanon and felt its bitter taste. His eminence called on Zionists not to try to approach Lebanon anymore and to abandon all their dreams in this country. His eminence said that Hezbollah does not seek war. Yet, he promised of victory in case any new conflict erupts.

DEMARCATING BORDER STATE’S RESPONSIBILITY
Turning to the issue of Lebanon’s rights in its oil and field gas, Sayyed Nasrallah said Lebanese are before a historic and unprecedented opportunity allowing their country to become rich. His eminence said the issue of demarcating Lebanon's maritime borders was the responsibility of the state.

“When the Lebanese government and its official institutions assigns a territory as Lebanese and the other as Palestinian, then the resistance will act accordingly ... therefore, when Lebanon considers a zone to be part of its regional water, then the resistance will act accordingly,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, referring to the disputed maritime zone between the occupied territories and Lebanon that is estimated to contain billions of dollars worth of gas and oil resources. “We, in the resistance, don't interfere in the border demarcation process and we will deal with the situation as approved by the Lebanese state,” his eminence said, as he stressed he fully trusts the current government and that it would not relinquish any of the Lebanese no matter what the price was.

LEBANON WILL PROTECT MARITIME RIGHTS
Yet, Sayyed Nasrallah warned Israel against attempts to steal Lebanon's maritime resources. “Whoever harms the future maritime Lebanese projects, will face the same damage and Israel knows that Lebanon is capable of such damage,” his eminence declared. “I can confidently say that Lebanon is capable of protecting its oil and gas installations, because we will avenge any attack on these installations and they know that Lebanon is capable of doing that.”

Hezbollah Secretary General concluded by calling on the Lebanese people to support the government in this major national challenge, because oil and gas excavation would benefit all the Lebanese. “I tell the friends and the foes that Lebanon will rely on all the elements of strength in order to regain its natural resources, and the most important element is the army-people-Resistance formula,” his eminence highlighted.