Hassan Nasrallah losing support after defending Assad

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

released by Israel [AFP]
Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Lebanon' s
Hezbollah group, has made his first public
appearance for more than three years at a rally
in Beirut.
The leader has rarely been seen since his group
helped battle Israel in a month-long war in
2006, fearing Israeli assassination.
Since then, he normally communicates with his
followers and gives news conferences via
satellite link-up .
Nasrallah was seen walking through a throng of
people in a southern Shia stronghold in Beirut on
Tuesday before he addressed a crowd marking
the religious festival of Ashoura - a major
religious festival which commemorates the
martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the
Prophet Muhammad.
He said his public appearance in the suburb of
Dahiya was a message to those who believed
they could "threaten us".
'Here to stay'
"I wanted to be with you for a few minutes ... to
renew our pledge and for the world to hear us,"
Nasrallah said.
He said Hezbollah was "here to stay" and would
never give up its weapons.
"We are increasing in numbers and in
weapons ... and for those who are betting that
our weapons are rusting, we say that our
weapons are being renewed," he said.
A smiling Nasrallah then left the podium, telling
tens of thousands of supporters he would
reappear in few minutes on a giant screen for a
longer speech.
"See you in few minutes," he joked to his
followers before he left.
His appearance is meant to portray confidence
at a time of upheaval in the Middle East, and
particularly in Syria, which along with Iran is
Hezbollah's main backer.
Many Syrians and Arabs around the region have
in recent years elevated Nasrallah to the status
of a nationalist hero after the success of
Hezbollah fighters against Israel in 2006.
Since the Syrian uprising, however, many
Syrians have unleashed their anger at Hezbollah
over its support for President Bashar al- Assad's
rule.
Some protesters in Syria have set fire to the
yellow flag of Hezbollah and pictures of
Nasrallah.
'Ready to die'
In a speech broadcast on large screens shortly
after his departure, Nasrallah vowed his group
would continue to arm in the face of possible
"regional change," hinting at neighbouring Syria.
"A message to all those who are conspiring
against the resistance and banking on change [in
the Arab world] ... We will never let go of our
arms," he said.
"We are tens of thousands of trained fighters,
who are all ready to die.
"Day after day, the resistance gains more
fighters, trains better fighters and arms even
more heavily. Every weapon that rusts is
replaced."
Many observers say the Syria crisis, which is
threatening to topple Assad, has dealt a severe
blow to the Lebanese group.
Nasrallah lashed out at the US for seeking to
destroy Syria in order to "make up for its defeat
in Iraq".
"The United States has tried to portray itself as
the defender of human rights and democracy in
the Arab world," he said.
"These charlatans and hypocrites are known for
their support of all dictatorships that collapse
and for disowning these dictatorships
immediately after they collapse.
"This is the character of Satan."
'Exceptional relationship'
Nasrallah renewed his vow to stand by Assad
and lashed out at the Syrian National Council,
the main anti-Assad opposition group, for
aiming to "destroy Syria" while moving closer to
Washington and Israel.
"The so- called Syrian National Council, formed
in Istanbul, and its leader Burhan Ghalyoun ...
are trying to present their credentials to the
United States and Israel," Nasrallah said.
His comments came after Ghalyoun was quoted
as saying a Syria run by the country' s main
opposition group would cut military ties to Iran,
Hezbollah and the Palestinian movement
Hamas.
"There will be no special relationship with Iran,"
Ghalyoun, a 66- year- old university professor,
told the Wall Street Journal, in an interview
published on Friday.
"Breaking the exceptional relationship means
breaking the strategic, military alliance," he was
quoted as saying. "After the fall of the Syrian
regime, [Hezbollah] won't be the same."

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

Unfortunately Hassan Nasrallah has been blinded by sectarian and military motives( assad being alawi i & arming hezbullah).
So his popularity amongst non-shia muslims is decreasing by day!

[Jaidi]

Not a smart move. He could've simply said nothing and it would be better for them. They need to try to establish links with the opposition as well, instead of hanging on to Assad.

[samadoon-waaxid]

assad is hizbullah and hizbullah is Assad and the hizbullah troops are already in Syria,so this is actually pretty soft rhetoric compared to the things he is cooking under the table

[ToughGong]

Israel [AFP]

He should drop Asad like he hot