Shiite towns attacked in Lebanon after Nasrallah speech

Shortly after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed in his Friday speech to put an end to the rocket attacks against the predominantly Shiite Baalbek-Hermel region, nine rockets were fired from Syrian territory that landed in this Beqaa area wounding two people

“Five rockets fired from the Syrian side of the border fell on the Baalbek area of al-Kayyal,”  National News Agency reported adding later that four more rockets hit the city, wounding two people.

The agency said the rockets fell in the areas of al-Kayyal, Adous intersection, al-Basatin and near the My College School, the house of Suleiman Ramadan and the house of Sheikh Hassan Shamas.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian rebels “fired a Grad rocket on the Shiite Aleppo town of al-Fawaa, describing the shelling as a response to Nasrallah’s speech.”

In his address, Nasrallah noted that “there is a delicate situation in the Baalbek-Hermel area — which includes the rockets that are falling on the area — that needs special care.”

Nasrallah vowed in his speech that his militia would keep fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after it spearheaded the recapture of the strategic town of Qusair last week.

“We will not change our position. After Qusair is the same as before Qusair … Wherever we need to be, we will be,” Nasrallah said in his televised speech.

Lebanon in danger

Lebanon’s former prime minister Saad Hariri accused Hezbollah’s leader on Thursday of endangering Lebanon’s security by “dragging” the nation into regional rifts.

“Our nation, dear Lebanese, is in danger,” Hariri said in a statement released by his press office.

“What Lebanon is facing at present approaches the brink of existential danger and threatens Lebanon’s message and values of cultural and religious diversity.”

Hariri said Hezbollah defied Lebanon’s law and has granted itself the right to make crucial decisions on behalf of the nation, which was sending thousands of fighters to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad.

“Hezbollah has decided unilaterally to breach all the principles, laws and bases that govern the national life among the Lebanese.”

Hariri added that for years, Lebanese people held countries like Israel responsible for sparking conflicts inside the country. But now, Hezbollah imposes the “real danger” form within our nation.

“The real danger now lies in the political fabric of the country, as Hezbollah was able to deduct large parts of it.”
“When we say national fate, we do not mean the fate of a sect or group but we are talking about a danger threatening everyone without exception, because none of the Lebanese groups, that is the Sunnis, Shiites, Druzes and the Christians, can avoid the slope that Hezbollah is dragging Lebanon to.” Hariri stressed.

On Wednesday Free Syrian Army leader , Colonel Riad Al Asaad branded Hezbollah as Syria’s enemy number one and accused it of invading his country.

Also on Thursday Former Lebanese PM and current Future parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora accused Hezbollah of gambling with the interests of the Lebanese people.

“Hezbollah is not only gambling with its own future but with the interests and livelihood of all the Lebanese people,” Siniora’s press office quoted him as saying.