Hezbollah lawmaker says: 'no choice
but resistance' as Israel expands
its aggression into Lebanon
May 29th, 12:06pm
(PressTV)
A senior Lebanese parliamentarian says Hezbollah will continue
its military operations against Israeli forces, rejecting a path of
"humiliation" as Israel pressed deeper into southern Lebanon
with airstrikes and ground invasions --------- that have killed
thousands of civilians.
Hassan Fadlallah, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance
=bloc in the Lebanese Parliament, said the ongoing "bloody
aggression" by Israel is aimed at occupying land and
displacing the population.
His remarks came...... as the Israeli military intensified strikes
across the south, hitting healthcare facilities and residential
areas in what humanitarian groups warn is a widening war.
"We are facing a bloody Israeli aggression aimed at occupying
our land ---- and expelling us from it. There is no choice - but
resistance and steadfastness," Fadlallah said, in comments
reported by Lebanese outlets.
The Israeli escalation ------ has shattered a fragile ceasefire,
unleashing a massive air campaign and a ground invasion
that has pushed north of the Litani River ----- for the first
time in decades.
Fadlallah said Hezbollah is fighting a regular army equipped
with advanced weapons. He said the resistance's goal is
not to hold static defensive lines but to "exhaust" the
enemy through ambushes ------ and prevent it from
consolidating control over Lebanese territory.
"The resistance - will continue its operations to prevent the
enemy from stabilizing its presence, even if it enters the
villages of the south," Fadlallah said, vowing to
replicate the group's success -- in forcing an
Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory
in 2000.
"What is before our country is either surrender
or war. We --------- will not bow our heads."
The comments signal a hardening stance just days before
planned talks between Lebanese and Israeli military
officials in Washington...... which Hezbollah
has rejected.
‘Unprecedented’ destruction and medical crisis
As Fadlallah spoke, Israeli warplanes and drones struck the
south, including the city of Nabatieh, and the towns of Kfar
Roumnan, Shoukine, and Ain Qana. One strike hit a health
centre in the town of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr ---- a pattern
of attacks that has drawn condemnation from
international medical groups.
Data from Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health indicates
a systematic targeting of emergency responders.
Since March 2, at least 42 paramedics have been killed,
according to ministry records, with the total death toll
across Lebanon surpassing 3,300 and injuries
exceeding 10,000.
The head of the Lebanese Red Cross told Al Jazeera
--- that there are "no safe corridors" for rescuers to
reach the wounded. Four hospitals in the south
have been forced out of service entirely.
Fadlallah said the United States is providing political and
military cover for the invasion, stating that the Israeli
crimes are carried out with a "green light from
America ...and a suspicious silence from
the government in Beirut."
He also said the Lebanese government is using ongoing
negotiations ---- as a "political platform" for the enemy.
Fadlallah said Israel is attempting to replicate the
occupation - of the internationally unrecognized
Golan Heights - seized from Syria and annexed;
by seeking to annex southern Lebanon and
depopulate its villages.
"The goal mapped out for this aggression is to occupy
the south and displace its residents... so that the
Zionists can annex it to their entity, just like
they did with the Golan," Fadlallah said.
"But the existence of the resistance - and the
steadfastness of our people --- prevent the
enemy's historical ambitions....... from
being realized."
With diplomatic efforts stalled and Iranian officials
insisting a Lebanon truce must be part of any
broader nuclear deal with Washington,
Fadlallah signaled that the front in
southern Lebanon will remain
active --------- regardless of
international pressure.
"Iran insists on stopping the aggression against Lebanon
and will not accept an agreement that excludes
Lebanon," he said, adding that: the enemy
is trying to intensify its strikes before a
potential US-Iranian understanding
is reached.
"The enemy is trying to exploit the government's
insistence on continuing negotiations ---------
to commit more massacres."
_______________________________________
US, Israel --- facing 'decline'
after their Ramadan war:
Senior Iranian cleric
May 29th, 12:07pm
(PressTV)
The interim leader of Tehran's Friday prayer congregation, has
declared that the US and Israel, are witnessing their "decline"
in the region, asserting that the 40-day Ramadan war proved
Washington has lost the ability to maintain a political
presence in West Asia.
Speaking at the University of Tehran, Hojjatoleslam Seyyed
Mohammad Hassan Abutorabifard said the changing
balance of power is evident in the Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s
response -- to a US strike near
Bandar Abbas airport early
on Thursday.
"The aggressor American army - attacked a point on the
outskirts of Bandar Abbas airport at dawn yesterday
[Thursday]. This action was carried out... from one
of America's bases in the region," Abutorabifard
told worshippers.
"At exactly 4:50 a.m., the powerful hand of the IRGC
Aerospace Force delivered a hard and crushing
response to this aggression."
According to the IRGC, its forces targeted a US airbase
in Kuwait in retaliation for the US aerial strike near
the southern port city. The US Central Command
confirmed - Iran launched a ballistic missile
at its base in Kuwait.
"The Pentagon.. said the ceasefire was not broken,
which means the balance of power has changed
in Iran's favour," Abutorabifard said.
Abutorabifard, a veteran cleric and former lawmaker,
described the military exchanges - as evidence of
Iran's growing deterrence capability, which, he
said, is built on the country's scientific and
technological advancement.
"We must move at the frontier of knowledge, technology,
and defense power, because it is this power -- that has
humiliated America," he said. "Today - the world only
understands one language: the language of power."
He called for increasing "the authority of the Iranian people
and the Axis of Resistance," adding that the path to
achieving this - lies in expanding the capacities
of the nation.
The cleric's remarks come after more than two months of direct
military confrontation between Iran and the combined forces
of the US & Israel. The war, which began on February 28th,
when the US and Israel launched coordinated terrorist
strikes on Iranian territory, lasted approximately 40
days and coincided with the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan, giving the conflict its name: the
Ramadan War.
Iran's acting defense minister, Brigadier General
Majid Ebn-e-Reza, said on Tuesday that Iran
achieved significant technological break-
throughs during the war, enabling its
forces to target approximately 210
enemy aircraft --------- including
advanced stealth jets.
A US congressional report estimated US aircraft losses
at 42, with replacement costs potentially exceeding
$7 billion.
'Every bullet hits America first'
Abutorabifard condemned the "brutal" Israeli attacks on
Lebanon, which he said, have resulted in widespread
civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction.
"Once again, the vile and predatory nature of the occupying
regime has been exposed," he said. "These crimes are
carried out with the full support of the American
ruling establishment and with Washington's
military and political backing."
He drew a direct line between the Israeli military
actions and US strategic interests in the region.
"Today.... with the developments that have taken place in the
region, every bullet that the regime fires, lands on America's
body --------- before it targets Lebanon and Palestine. This,
represents the decline of America --- and the collapse
of the Zionist regime."
The cleric said the Ramadan war, made both Washington and
Tel Aviv -- understand a fundamental reality: "Even a direct
American presence, has completely lost the ability to
rearrange the political landscape in West Asia.
This signifies the end of any American and
Israeli presence....... in the Southwest
Asian region."
Abutorabifard said Israel is attempting
....to hide its military setbacks.
"The regime --- having suffered heavy blows from Iran
and the resistance front during the Ramadan war,
is spending its days....... in misery. Their
concealment efforts cannot hide
the collapse of the Zionist
regime's power."
He attributed Iran's military capabilities to
scientific achievement .......rooted in faith.
"The missile and drone power of the armed forces --- is an
achievement of the knowledge and science that.. in the
light of the radiant lights of faith and righteous deeds,
has transformed.... into this exceptional deterrent
power. Today, it is science ---- that has created
this power for the Iranian nation."
__________________________________________________________
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