BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Sleiman urged the Shiite group Hezbollah yesterday to end its participation in the war in Syria and “return to Lebanon,” saying its role was raising tensions at home.
In an interview with the As-Safir Lebanese daily, Sleiman said he was “against Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian conflict, because this intervention leads to tensions in Lebanon.”
His comments came after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said his group, which recently helped regime troops win control of the town of Qusayr in central Homs province, would remain involved in the war.
Activists and opposition fighters have said Hezbollah forces are now deploying at other key sites in the country, including in the north, where the government has vowed an offensive in Aleppo.
“If they (Hezbollah) participate in the battle in Aleppo and there are more deaths in the ranks of the party it will raise tensions further. Qusayr must be the end, and they must return to Lebanon,” Sleiman said.
“I have said that protecting the resistance is dear to me, but I also want to protect them from themselves,” he said, referring to Hezbollah’s long-time role as champion against Israel.
“When I see that Hezbollah is acting in error, I tell them,” he added.
Sleiman has come under fire from allies of Hezbollah and Damascus for sending a memorandum to the United Nations complaining of “violations and acts of aggression against Lebanon from all parties to the conflict in Syria.”
Sleiman:Hezbollah must end Syria role
