TEL AVIV – Saudi officials have called for an international coalition to fight the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, saying it is the “Party of Satan” and “worse than the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda put together.”
In a series of tweets over the past two months, Saudi Gulf Affairs Minister Thamer Al-Sabhan lashed out at the Iran-sponsored group, accusing it of “inhuman crimes.” His accusations elicited a harsh response from Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah who mocked both Saudi Arabia and its ally the U.S. for attempting to intimidate his party.
Al-Sabhan also called on the Lebanese public to oppose Hezbollah, as well as demanding that Europe designate the group in its entirety – and not just its military wing – as a terror organization.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved a bill targeting Hezbollah’s fundraising, recruiting and arms procurement. A separate bill passed the same day urges President Donald Trump to demand the UN Security Council impose sanctions on the terror group for using civilians as human shields. A third resolution called on the E.U. to designate the Iranian proxy in its entirety as a terrorist organization, not just its military wing.
Al-Sabhan said that while the American sanctions are admirable, they aren’t enough and in order to achieve “regional peace and security” an international coalition should be established to fight Hezbollah.
In a speech earlier this month, Nasrallah ridiculed Al-Sabhan over the idea of an international coalition, declaring that Hezbollah was so mighty that “Al-Sabhan and his masters” cannot “do a thing against it.” He described Al-Sabhan as a “little boy” and accused Trump of being a bigmouth.
“Today our axis is stronger than ever … in terms of gear, manpower and experience,” Nasrallah said according to a translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). “When you have such jihad fighters you are not afraid of a braggart like Trump or a little boy like Al-Sabhan. They do not scare us and they will change nothing.”
He also vowed to “chop off the hands” of any country that threatened Lebanon.
Saudi articles over the past month reflected the sentiments expressed by the Gulf kingdom’s leadership, with senior journalists calling for a jihad against Hezbollah.
Writing for the London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Hussein Shobokshi said that Hezbollah, a “bloodthirsty criminal organization,” must be included in the war on terror.
Shobokshi asked why the world deals with the Islamic State and and Al-Qaeda “with an iron fist, yet handles Hezbollah with kid gloves.”
It is not clear why the international community is gentle with Hezbollah, which has been convicted of many diverse crimes in Lebanon and around the world via its proxies. Hezbollah fought to protect the regime of a tyrant [i.e. Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad] who murdered women and children, demolished homes and destroyed mosques; shelters wanted criminals [accused of] numerous offenses; runs terrorist organizations in Arab countries; smuggles drugs and launders money. It has committed every evil and sick crime, every transgression and every forbidden act. Nevertheless, there has been no focused campaign to eliminate it. Its leaders move in complete freedom and deliver speeches in public places.
Hezbollah has become more dangerous than ISIS and Al-Qaeda put together. This organization is cunning and [operates according to] a plan – unlike the stupid and impulsive ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Wherever it goes, it succeeds in infiltrating, inciting and provoking civil wars; the price of its presence is very high.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.