July 25, 2010 - Now Lebanon - Qaouk: Hezbollah will not allow STL to be used to achieve Israeli aims

Hezbollah commander in South Lebanon Sheikh Nabil Qaouk said on Sunday that the Resistance will not allow the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) to be used as a means to achieve Israel’s objectives of its 2006 July War, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Israel attacked Lebanon in the summer of 2006 with the declared aims of securing the release of two Israeli soldiers—whose capture by Hezbollah fighters triggered the war—and destroying the group’s military infrastructure. However, none of these aims was achieved during Israel’s 33-day military offensive on Lebanon.

“The Resistance raised its voice in order to avert dangers threatening Lebanon and the region,” Qaouk added.

Qaouk was apparently referring to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s Thursday comments that Prime Minister Saad Hariri informed him in May that the STL will indict Hezbollah members for the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri.

Nasrallah said in a speech last week that the STL’s expected indictment is an Israeli project designed to target Hezbollah by inciting sectarian strife in Lebanon. Nasrallah’s speech has since caused tension and drawn harsh criticisms, mainly from the March 14 coalition politicians.

Qaouk said that the Resistance is in a strong position internally for a political confrontation and externally ready for the possibility of a war with Israel.