MP Al-Hajiri to Asia News Agency: No Changes Observed After Al-Tall Visit to Qusair
Member of the “Loyalty to the Resistance” parliamentary bloc, MP Melhem Al-Hajiri, stated that “Abu Malik Al-Tall (a leader of armed groups described as terrorist) visited the Qusair area inside Syrian territory and did not enter Lebanese territory as some parties have claimed.”
He added that the Lebanese army is deployed on the Lebanese side of the border, which confirms, in his view, that the visit took place inside Syria. Al-Hajiri also denied reports of any military buildup on the Syrian side of the border, stressing that the frontier between Lebanon and Syria extends for approximately 43 metres with Syrian territory, and that “no changes on the ground have been observed.”
On another level, Al-Hajiri said that Israel is attempting through its attacks to provoke the resistance into responding, in order to claim that it is violating agreements. He added that the resistance continues to adhere to restraint, especially as many residents have returned to their homes and villages, but warned that it will not accept a return to the pre–2 March situation, adding that a response will eventually come, particularly since Israel, according to him, has never respected any agreements or commitments.
The MP further stated that the United States is the only party capable of restraining Israel, arguing that Washington is a partner in what he described as aggression against Lebanon, pointing to U.S.-made weapons and munitions used by Israel, as well as what he called U.S. protection of Israel at the United Nations Security Council.
Al-Hajiri also said that regional developments involving the Islamic Republic have forced the United States to accept new realities and emerging balances of power, claiming that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz came in response to Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon. He called on the Lebanese state to preserve its leverage in negotiations, questioning what tools Lebanon possesses to negotiate in Washington, while noting that the state has threatened to suspend talks until Israel complies with agreements.
He concluded that the current round of direct negotiations in Washington will not produce significant results, as long as the Lebanese authorities state that they are not bound by agreements reached between the United States and Iran, arguing that this effectively gives Israel the means to continue violations, including killings, destruction, and demolition of homes.
