World

Pro-Iran Hezbollah says Riyadh will be 'defeated' in Yemen

Hezbollah firmly criticised operation, calling it "unjust" and "illegal"

Afp March 28, 2015

BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia will be roundly "defeated" in its air campaign against Yemen, Hassan Nasrallah, head of Lebanon's pro-Iran movement Hezbollah, said Friday, calling on Arab leaders to stop the "aggression".

"The outcome of this war is clear: Saudi Arabia will be defeated and the Yemeni people will have an undeniable victory," Nasrallah said in a televised speech.

Hezbollah is now militarily involved in Syria, where it is bolstering the embattled regime, and in Iraq where it says it is fighting Sunni extremists.

A months-long rebellion by Shia fighters in Yemen escalated into a regional conflict Wednesday, when a coalition led by Saudi Arabia began conducting air strikes on rebel-held territory.

Read: With Yemen strikes, Saudi stakes claim as regional powerhouse

Hezbollah firmly criticised the operation, calling it "unjust" and "illegal".

"It is the right of the oppressed... Yemeni people to resist and defend... and that is what they are doing," Nasrallah said Friday, calling for a political solution to the conflict.

Read: Saudi says Pakistan wants to join fight against Yemen rebels

The Hezbollah chief launched into a strongly worded diatribe against the Saudi kingdom, accusing it of launching air strikes against Yemen to "regain its hegemony" over the country.

"The problem is you -- you failed. Your way of doing things failed," he said, addressing the Saudi leadership.

Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, gives a speech in Beirut. PHOTO: AFP
"Saudi leaders have one last chance before they are defeated and humiliated, and that is to behave with the Yemenis like brothers and to begin a dialogue while the door is still open," Nasrallah said.

He called on the Arab League, "instead of being complicit in the bloodshed in Yemen, to assume a historic responsibility by stopping this aggression and moving towards a political solution."

"Otherwise, defeat and shame will meet the invaders," Nasrallah warned.

Read: OPINION: Why Pakistan should not take sides in the Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflict

A two-day Arab League meeting from Saturday in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is expected to be dominated by the Yemen crisis.

Nasrallah spoke for a little over an hour on Hezbollah's Al-Manar television station, which has been closely covering the situation in Yemen.

Since its founding in the 1980s in Lebanon, Hezbollah has been financially and politically supported by the Islamic republic of Iran.

COMMENTS (7)

numbersnumbers | 9 years ago | Reply Agreed since Iran has NEVER "meddled" in other countries affairs using their agents like Hezbollah, Hamas, and now the Shia "rebels" in Yemen!!! Not!

afroze fatemah | 9 years ago | Reply Why didn't you mention what he said about Pakistan ? REALIty HURTS ! Please post the full content of Speech NOT your analysis of his speech. Nasrallah: where is the Saudi army, obviously they dont fight, they use the pakistanis, and jordanians etc..they will not succeed.

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Abdullah | 9 years ago | Reply @zara: You r right, we all need to act more maturely and sincerely seek Allah's pleasure; otherwise more fasaad not to mention becoming easy targets; it took Europe centuries and a couple of world wars to be a bit peaceful but even that is precarious; I pray that the Muslim world come to its senses quickly!

zara | 9 years ago | Reply @Aziz Uddin: Iran, saudi and usa all are culprits. Usa ripped apart mid east ,saudia supported then created monster in shapr of isis. It was a risk for iran so iran got involved in iraq. But why iran forwarded houthis in yemen is surprising. It was total unnecessary massaccare.what iran had done in yemen is sick and very sick. now saudi airstrikes also dont look fair. And houthis should be talked toand matters sorted out but dont know iran will let houthis strike a deal.

Bystander | 9 years ago | Reply @Aziz Uddin: well said, people should dig deeper into the background of the mess in the arab world without reacting purely emotionally. @Human: i understand the need for unity but it has to be based on reality and truth, not a false one - that only leads to hypocrisy.

Aziz Uddin | 9 years ago | Reply Nasrallah / Hezbollah have shown their true colors by supporting the murderous regime of Assad which had been about to fall to the Syrian people. At the time, there was no ISIS etc. True, the Syrian regime may have supported Hezbollah but who is to say that the Syrian People wouldn't have offered support as well? Hezbollah's calculation, instead, was sectarian. This is the underlying truth behind Hezbollah/Iran/Houthi statements. They only appear pro-Islam, but in reality the agenda is indeed sectarian and the results whether in Syria, Iraq or over the past year, Yemen, show that their goal is anything but Islamic. The confusion that exists in many people whether Muslim/Pakistani/anti-colonial/anti-Zionist etc re: Hezbollah and Iran would be cleared up very quickly if they spoke with the Syrians / Iraqis and Yemeni's who have been the victims of this sectarian agenda. Closer to home, you can also ask Sunni Balochis and Afghans about Iranian meddling there. I am proud NOT to be an anti-Shia bigot as unfortunately many in Pakistan may be. At the same time I am certain that the current Iranian dispensation is NOT good for the Muslim world or the world in general.

Human | 9 years ago | Reply such statements will only worsen the unity of muslims

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