Nasrallah made the statement on the eve of the sixth anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from the South of Lebanon.

Nasrallah, who faces Lebanese and international pressure to disarm as per UN resolution 1559 and al Taif Accord, said that guerrilla fighting was Lebanon's sole option in facing Israeli aggression .

"It is the only available alternative before us," Nasrallah said, reiterating that northern Israel remained "under the firing line" of his group's more than 12,000 rockets.

Nasrallah said "the resistance is a point of strength for Lebanon" in the absence of a powerful regular Lebanese army.

"If today I go on television to tell the residents of the (northern Israeli) settlements that they should go down to the shelters, they will all be in Tel Aviv in no time," said Nasrallah during a conference on "the culture of resistance."

Nasrallah added "To merge the resistance into the regular Lebanese army is not a realistic option because this will weaken the Lebanese position in facing the much superior Israeli army equipment or its experience."

Syria's influence

A pro-Syrian Palestinian militant group which retains bases in Lebanon demanded the same rights as Hezbollah for its own fighters and rejected a decision by the Lebanese politicians during the national dialogue talks to limit carrying weapons to inside the camps only.

"Whatever the circumstances, we will not allow harm to be done at this stage to the Palestinian military option," Fatah al-Intifada said in a statement.

"Palestinian weapons, whether they are outside or inside the camps, must be considered exactly like those of the Resistance," it added, referring to Hezbollah's military wing.

Fatah al-Intifada is based in Syria , but last week their fighters crossed the borders into Lebanon and had a clash with the Lebanese army border unit. The clash resulted in the death of the Lebanese soldier Moustapha Moudlej.

The death of Moudlej has caused an outrage in Lebanon and a fresh sense of urgency to disarm the Palestinians stationed outside the refugee camps.

But unfortunately the Syrian regime of Bashar el Assad continues to influence these armed groups and in doing so Syria is destabilizing Lebanon.

The Fatah al-Intifada gunmen could not have crossed the Syrian borders into Lebanon without the full knowledge of the Syrian authorities.

What is worse, the Syrian authorities allowed Fatah al-Intifada trucks, jeeps , supplies and troop reinforcement to cross the borders also after the initial clash with Lebanon's army . This is a flagrant interference in Lebanon's internal affairs by Syria and should not be allowed to continue.

The influence of Syria over the armed militias and resistance groups is what worries the Lebanese most. The Fatah argument about its arms is a typical example of how this armament issue could escalate and restart another civil war, even though no one in Lebanon has the stomach for another civil war.

Ya Libnan Volunteer Omar Raad, offered a solution on how to integrate Hezbollah into the Lebanese army. Lebanese leaders should seriously consider this solution during the national dialogue talks that will resume on June 8. Raad calls the solution "one nation , one army"

Shebaa farms

On May 25, 2000, Israel completed the withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon. The unilateral move spelled the end of 22-year occupation by Israel. Hezbollah was credit with liberating the south.

But Shebaa farms which is claimed by Lebanon as a Lebanese territory remains under Israeli occupation. The UN considers Shebaa as Syrian, but Syria has on several occasions stated verbally that it is Lebanese.

PM Siniora is hoping that Syria will accept resolution 1680 and demarcate the borders with Lebanon. As soon as Shebaa is demarcated as Lebanese territory then Lebanon could go to the UN and press Israel to withdraw. Once Israel withdraws there will be no more need for Hezbollah arms.