BEIRUT (Dispatches) – The
secretary general of Hezbollah resistance movement did not rule out going to war with the Zionist regime over the regime’s attempts at impinging on Lebanon’s natural resources.
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made the remarks on Sunday amid a maritime dispute that escalated in early July, after the Zionist regime moved vessels into the Karish Gas Field, which lies in Lebanon’s territorial waters.
Given the entrance of the regime’s vessels into the waters, he said, “Hezbollah’s leadership discussed the options in front of the country,” adding that “there is a 50 percent chance that (the situation) could be resolved, and a 50 percent chance that the situation could advance towards war.”
The resistance’s attitude and behavior towards the Zionist regime in the case, Nasrallah said, depended on the results of ongoing indirect negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv over the disputed maritime area.
On Saturday, U.S. Senior Adviser for Energy Security Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut in order to meet with Lebanese officials to mediate ongoing talks between Lebanon and Israel over their long-standing maritime border dispute.
Hours before the meeting, Hezbollah released a video showing Zionist vessels operating in the disputed area in the Mediterranean, warning that all the occupying regime’s platforms and targets were “within the reach” of its missiles.
Adding to his remarks, Nasrallah likewise cautioned that “we have been ready over the past 40 years, and are still ready to sacrifice our lives for our dear nation.”
The occupying regime launched two wars against Lebanon in the 2000s. In both cases, it was forced to retreat after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Hezbollah.
Hochstein said on Monday he remained optimistic about making progress toward a deal and looked forward to returning to the region to make a “final arrangement.”
He made the comments after meeting Lebanon’s top leaders at the presidential palace, as he presses efforts to clinch a rare agreement between arch-foes that should allow both to develop offshore energy resources.
“I remain optimistic that we can make continuous progress as we have over the last several weeks and I look forward to being able to come back to the region to make the final arrangement,” Hochstein said.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati gave a thumbs-up as he emerged from the meeting that also included President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Lebanese deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab said the negotiations were now moving “within a short timeframe.”