Hezbollah stresses right to respond to Israeli strikes on Syria

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Thursday that the Israeli attacks against Syria were against "the entire axis of resistance" and they have the right to retaliate.

In an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV, Nasrallah said "the recurrent strikes on various targets inside Syria are a major violation, and we consider any strike on targets in Syria as an attack against the entire axis of resistance, not only against Syria."

Asked whether the so-called axis of resistance -- which comprises Iran, Syria and Hizbullah -- might take a decision to retaliate against Israel's raids, Nasrallah said "yes, such a decision could be taken... This axis has the ability to respond."

Nasrallah warned Israel that "it would be totally mistaken if it was betting that the resistance has weakened or that its capabilities, readiness, assets and determination have waned due to participation in the Syrian war."

"It will find out that counting on these calculations will lead to a foolishness rather than a major mistake," pointing that "the Israelis are currently incapable of achieving a decisive and clear victory in any possible war on Lebanon," he said.

When addressing his party's militants, Nasrallah said "when the leadership of the resistance asks you to enter into the Galilee, this means the resistance must be ready to enter into the Galilee and areas beyond Galilee."

During the interview, Nasrallah also hailed the dialogue between his party and al-Mustaqbal Movement for creating "self-restraint," commending al-Mustaqbal chief ex-PM Saad Hariri who gave the green light to the dialogue between his movement's representatives and Hezbollah despite the objection of several of the movement's officials.

The two sides have held two rounds of talks. Another session is scheduled to be held on Friday to discuss the presidential deadlock.

The dialogue has so far curbed sectarian tension, Nasrallah said. Its results appeared following the suicide bombing that rocked the northern city of Tripoli over the weekend, he added.

"All parties exercised a high level of self-restraint," Nasrallah said, adding "had it not been for the dialogue, the reaction would have been different."

Two Sunni suicide bombers blew themselves up on Saturday at a packed cafe in Tripoli's mainly Alawite Jabal Mohsen, leaving nine people dead and at least 37 injured.

The city has previously witnessed explosions and deadly rounds of fighting between the majority Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, whose residents belong to the sect of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Nasrallah reiterated his support for his ally Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, saying he should be Lebanon's next president.

The post has been left vacant after former President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended on May 25 last year over differences between the country's rival factions on a compromise candidate. Endit