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Nasrallah Condemns Saudi Arabia’s Bombing of Yemen

On March 27, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech denouncing the Saudi military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.

On March 27, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech denouncing the Saudi military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. “We condemn the oppressive US-Saudi aggression against Yemen and its people, army, edifices, present, and future,” he said. According to Nasrallah, Saudi Arabia chose to intervene because “it lost its control and hegemony over Yemen.” The following are excerpts from Nasrallah’s speech, translated by Al Ahed News.

Yemen

“Everything that has happened in our region from wars and oppressions did not ever require Saudi military intervention or a Saudi firmness storm. What happened that required all of what took place? Let's see what this is. If the goal is to rescue the Yemeni people, then why did you leave the Palestinian people for decades without making any move? You even conspired against them, distorted them, failed them, and sold them to the "Israelis" and the Americans.”

“Secondly, if the goal is to restore the legitimate authority which you claim is represented by Abed Rabbu Mansour and his government, then why did not you exert any effort to restore what is more important from an authority- meaning the land of Palestine and the sanctities of the nation in Palestine and the first Kiblah for Muslims?”

“Thirdly, you are saying that the new situation in Yemen threatens your security- the security of the Gulf and the security of Saudi Arabia. But, it is still a new situation and its capacities and capabilities are not yet clear; they are not finally formed. Still, you are saying that you felt the danger, and took the initiative and launched this aggression.”

“Well, haven't you felt the danger of the existence of "Israel" which owns one of the strongest armies in the world and borders your ports, seas, oceans, and countries? Arabs and Muslims! This provides further proof in the eyes of these Arabs that "Israel" is not an enemy and it has never been an enemy or a threat that zealously requires a storm of this kind.”

“If they wanted to restore the legitimate president, they should have at first started with sanctions, political pressures, financial pressures, and economic pressures; they may have called for dialogues and made good of all the friendships and enmities in the world. As a final stage, they may resort to this option.”

“Secondly, everyone knows that the internal problems in Yemen are great. There are security problems, "ISIL", Al Qaida, problems pertaining to parties and regions, besides problems that have to do with development, economy, society, livelihood, finance, and politics as well as reconstructing the regime and drafting a new constitution. That means that the Yemeni people and the political forces in Yemen have much work for at least the coming 20 to 30 years. It is clear what the Yemeni military capabilities are. In fact, the people who know best about the military capabilities in Yemen are the Saudis.”

“Ansarullah Movement had contacts with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the Gulf states. There were contacts and negotiations. In fact, on the eve of the decease of King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, there was a delegation from Ansarullah in Riyadh. They met and held talks with the Saudi intelligence.”

“The king died and a new authority came. Contacts were severed. Well, some people said that they are ready for political dialogue. They headed for political dialogue in Sanaa- they did not agree to go to Aden; you said Riyadh- they accepted to go to Muscat. Why did you refuse Muscat? So, their priority is Yemen. They are ready to have contacts and carry out political dialogue over the future of Yemen in Muscat or any neutral state. They did not do anything. They did not stage any aggression against you. They did not take the initiative to fight you. They did not announce war against you.”

“The third pretext [for Saudi intervention] which is most circulated by Saudi, Gulf, and Arab media and all the media outlets financed by Saudi Arabia and its allies is that Yemen has become occupied by Iran; that is why they launched a war against Yemen. It is Iranian hegemony over Yemen.”

“An occupation has several faces; however, the most important and prominent aspect is the presence of Iranian forces occupying Yemen. For example, if there are Iranian military bases in a country, we may accuse Iran of occupying that country. Are there Iranian troops in Yemen? Are there Iranian military bases in Yemen? Is Iran truly occupying Yemen militarily? This is one of the very flagrant lies which, in fact, are undisputable.”

“Well, they may say that it is not an occupation in the military sense of the word; there is rather Iranian hegemony and control over Yemen. Good then. This point deserves to be discussed not only for the sake of Yemen, but also for the sake of understanding all that is taking place in our region. Allow me here to present an essential problem that is in the mind of the Saudi regime and those with them. There is a problem in the mind which is not recognizing any so-called "people"- the Tunisian people, the Egyptian people, the Yemeni people, and even the Gulf people, the Saudi people, the Iraqi people, movements of peoples, the will of peoples, and the causes of peoples. So, they might be "powerful" kings and rulers; thus, they look to people as their subjects, and consequently, the subjects mustn't have an independent will, an independent cause, nor an independent identity. Should you one day revolt, it would be part of the opposing axes in the regional or international struggle.”

“So, this is the essential problem. That's why they acted with the Tunisian issue and the Egyptian issue as such. From the very beginning, they deal with Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Syria, and all of the regions in the same way. Where do this concept and this mentality lead to? They lead to incorrect stances, incorrect policies, and consequently, incorrect results and accumulating failures.”

“The problem is in you and not in Iran. The problem is in you, in your failure, in your mind, in your administration, and in your way, conduct, schemes and comprehension.”

“The Houthi brethrens or Ansarullah- call them as you like- used to not have any ties with Iran until before the Sixth War, i.e. until before a few years ago. They used to have ties with Arab states; one of these Arab states is Qatar. This is what Qatari officials told me.

“Yemen cannot be restored through waging a war on Yemen. Restoring Yemen may be achieved through understanding Yemen, dealing fraternally with Yemen, carrying dialogue with the Yemenis, being humble with the Yemenis, and through a rational conduct with the Yemenis- and not through a "Storm of Firmness.”

“The true reason is that Saudi Arabia flopped in Yemen and lost Yemen. It lost its control and hegemony over Yemen. It felt frustrated from its internal choices and its men in Yemen and from the Takfiri groups in Yemen. It felt that Yemen has become the ownership of its people and the ownership of truly national, independent, and sovereign groups that do not succumb to anyone's patronage.”

“Firstly, we condemn the oppressive US-Saudi aggression against Yemen and its people, army, edifices, present, and future.”

“Secondly, we call for the halt of this aggression from now, and at every moment, we call for stopping this aggression.”

“Thirdly, we call for resuming initiatives for political solutions in Yemen, and this is something possible before and after the aggression.”

“Fourthly, I have a call to the countries whose governments are cooperating in the aggression. Reconsider your decision. Listen to your consciences, religion, mind, and interests.”

“Fifthly, the oppressed, persecuted, prideful, noble, courageous, wise, firm, and determined Yemeni people have the right to defend, resist, and confront, and they are doing so. And here, I am telling you that they will gain victory.

Iran

Well, why mustn't the Palestinian people have sympathy with Iran and love Iran? They do so because Iran had sympathy with them, loved them, helped them, and assisted them despite all its troubles.”

“For what reason wouldn't the Iraqi people respect and love Iran? Why shouldn't Iran have presence and influence in Iraq when it stood by it, helped it, supported it, and defended it in the few-months battle that was about to extradite its existence and entity with the blessing of your support of "ISIL"? Then, the Al Arabiya channel, Al Jazira channel, and Arab officials come to talk about the Iranian influence in Iraq. It is you who are lazy, indolent, and failures because you did not assume your responsibilities towards the Iraqi people. There is only one side which exists, is active, has zeal, and assumes responsibility and rapid presence- although the Iranians are usually calm and cold. Still, why shouldn't the Iranians have presence and influence in Iraq?”

“Iran is an Islamic Republic. It is the state of Islam. It is the state of Imam Khomeini. It is the state of the struggling and striving Muslim people who view Islam above any other racial or sectarian consideration, whether Persianism or anything else. Yes, you will feel bewildered because Iran helps Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and other places and still, it does not dictate, take decisions, interfere, and spread its hegemony. You do not want to believe that because you cannot comprehend this kind of mentality, morals, intellect, and track.”

Lebanon

“We- Hizbullah and the Future Movement- chose dialogue for the national interest and the interest of our country. So, from the very beginning, there were political forces in Lebanon- from within and outside of the Future Movement- who reject dialogue and strongly oppose it, in addition to working at crippling it.”

“Thus, I especially call on the masses of the resistance to have patience, tolerate, and give no attention to these voices because their aim is to revive sectarian and factional provocation and sedition, as such voices have no place except in an atmosphere of sedition, severe divisions, and international conflicts.”

“As for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and all that is being said on its platforms, everyone in Lebanon and the world knows that years ago, we tackled this issue and announced a clear, firm, and final stance on the tribunal, its structure, its goals, its laws, and its end results. This is final for us.”

“No doubt, presidential vacuum is harmful to Lebanon, and carrying out presidential elections is very important. Still, some like to hold others responsible. I am concerned with what was said a few days ago pursuant to accusing Iran, and consequently, Hizbullah. The accusation is against Iran. Iran is being accused of crippling presidential elections in Lebanon. Frankly speaking, I will only say that Iran does not interfere in the presidential elections in Lebanon. It did not ever and will never interfere, in fact.”

“The side responsible for crippling the elections is very well known in the media, behind the scenes, and in political circles by all of the Lebanese; it is a definite state which I will name soon. This state puts a veto on the most powerful, natural, and logical candidate who might achieve equilibrium and stability in Lebanon, and enjoys the major Christian and national popularity.”

“This state that puts the veto and prevents elections is: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and more precisely- Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal. This is known by everyone. I personally deduce that the leadership of the Future Movement in some place does not oppose this choice. The head of the Future Movement at some point in the covert discussions or in his personal convictions does not oppose this choice. However, the problem in Lebanon is that there is a state that had put a veto on a good president.”

Click here for the full speech

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