Mustaqbal on Hizbullah's Stance from Islamic Coalition: Lebanon Not Attached to Party's Allies

Al-Mustaqbal movement criticized Hizbullah's objection on Lebanon's participation in the Islamic Alliance formed by Saudi Arabia saying that the party's stance implies that it rejects an Islamic coalition to fight the Islamic State and al-Qaida only leaving room for “Iran's participation in Arab civil wars.”

“Only one thing can be understood from the statement issued by Hizbullah at this critical stage in the history of the region. It only means that the party objects to the formation of an Islamic coalition to fight the IS and al-Qaida, including arguments for the continuation of Arab civil wars and giving legitimacy for the Iranian participation in these battles,” said the statement.

“It is not surprising that Hizbullah takes a sharp negative stance from the formation of a broad coalition to combat terrorism especially that this announcement was issued by Saudi Arabia, which the party has hostility towards and wastes no opportunity to criticize,” it added.

Expressing astonishment at the fact that Hizbullah did not only object to the participation of Lebanon, but also slammed the initial approval of PM Tammam Salam to the Saudi request.

“Suddenly, Hizbullah has come to realize that similar decisions require cabinet and parliament approvals. We wish that the party had realized these constitutional and legal demands years ago when it gave itself the right to bring soldiers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to train its armed members in Bekaa and other regions without the state's approval.”

The statement concluded by saying that “Lebanon is first and foremost an Arab state and a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It will never be a state attached to the axes desired by Hizbullah and its foreign references.”

Saudi Arabia unveiled on Tuesday a coalition of 35 countries from across the Islamic and Arab world that is aimed at confronting “terrorism.”

The announcement that Lebanon joined the alliance sparked objections in the country, with some officials saying that they were not informed of such a measure.

Salam was informed of the step and defended it on Wednesday, saying: “I am entitled as premier to take a preliminary decision on Saudi Arabia's invitation to take part in this alliance, especially since cabinet is not holding sessions.”

Hizbullah on Thursday expressed “deep doubts” about “the motives and objectives” that pushed Saudi Arabia to announce the formation of “an Islamic anti-terror military coalition.”

D.A.

M.T.