The group believes that the battle will result in the autumn of American tyranny and the emergence of a multipolar world
Lebanon has not formally entered into struggle with Israel, however the Israeli military is consistently bombing the southern areas of the nation the place Hezbollah fighters are holed up. In the present day, this Shiite motion constitutes the strongest political and navy power in Lebanon, and its enemies – whether or not inside or exterior the nation – should reckon with it.
The social gathering’s armed group has about 100,000 fighters, a large missile arsenal, and a big number of weapons and navy gear. Through the years, this influential group has grow to be an integral a part of Lebanese politics and the economic system. It’s also Iran’s primary ally, spreading the concepts of the Islamic Republic within the area and defending widespread values, particularly these associated to Jerusalem. Hezbollah considers the liberation of Jerusalem a sacred objective, and Hezbollah members view occasions in Palestine in the identical method.
Our assembly with Hezbollah spokesman Hajj Muhammad Afif has grow to be a convention. Similar to final yr, and the yr earlier than that, and three years in the past, we met in his workplace in south Beirut. Afif’s workplace seems to be the identical, and so does the person – as all the time, sporting a shirt and jacket over a jacket. At the least in some points, life in Lebanon stays secure.
Israel doesn’t win
Russia In the present day: Mr. Afif, how does the state of affairs in Palestine have an effect on Lebanon economically and politically?
Muhammad Afif: Even earlier than the struggle on Gaza, the financial state of affairs in Lebanon was very dangerous for a lot of causes. I am speaking in regards to the collapse of the nationwide foreign money and the banking sector, rising public debt, and so on. Final summer season, there have been some indicators of financial restoration since Lebanon acquired many vacationers and the Central Financial institution adopted sure financial measures. However then the Israeli aggression towards Gaza started, which affected not solely our nation’s economic system, but additionally the economic system of the complete area, because it paralyzed the area’s commerce system. Lebanon is principally at struggle. Nonetheless, we anticipated issues to be worse. We’re happy that these occasions affected Israel far more than neighboring nations, resembling Jordan, Egypt or Lebanon.
Politically, there have been better issues. Political processes associated to the presidential elections slowed as the main target shifted in the direction of the confrontation with Israel and the implications of this battle.
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Russia In the present day: In your opinion, has Israel achieved something within the context of this struggle?
Muhammad Afif: Within the 2006 Lebanon Conflict, the Israelis have been decided to defeat Hezbollah and free the hostages with none preconditions. In 2023, they determined to repeat this failed plan with Hamas. Throughout 60 days of preventing, the Israeli military failed to attain any goals. The one result’s large destruction and civilian deaths. This may severely have an effect on the world’s notion of Israel, and the USA is virtually remoted on this regard [i.e. supporting Israel]. The UN Secretary-Common invoked Article 99 for the primary time [in decades] To place strain on Israel. The entire world is speaking about saving Gaza. This international response is tough to disregard. As for Israel’s achievements on this struggle, there may be nothing.
Russia In the present day: Do you contemplate the Al-Aqsa Flood operation led by Hamas successful?
Muhammad Afif: We aren’t the one ones who contemplate the operation successful, because the Israelis themselves say so. Now, the Israelis have little doubt that Hamas is able to finishing up one other such operation. At one level, they felt fully protected since Gaza was partially blockaded in 2008 after which absolutely blockaded since 2014. However this didn’t stop a Hamas assault, and strategically, its penalties will likely be critical. All previous ideas collapsed, and half one million Israelis have been pressured to go away [the country]. What number of of them will stay overseas after the struggle ends?
Confidence in Israel’s energy has been shaken, and Israeli politicians bear duty. In the end, Hamas was in a position to implement this [operation] It depends solely on its forces in besieged Gaza, which has an space of solely 360 sq. kilometers. Think about what the resistance in Lebanon might do. Simply to confront Hamas, Israel referred to as in 300,000 reserve troopers and requested for assist from the Individuals and the complete West. In 75 years, there has by no means been a tougher time [they are] Stay to this present day – that is what they are saying in Israel. Due to this fact, I imagine that the operation was profitable on the strategic, tactical and intelligence ranges. Success will likely be full when the Palestinian prisoners are liberated from Israeli prisons.
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Conflict already exists and we’re a part of it
RT: After the latest speech by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, many individuals anticipated Hezbollah to take part absolutely within the struggle. Is such a situation potential?
Muhammad Afif: We’re a part of this struggle, and what’s taking place within the south [of Lebanon] It’s a actual struggle. You ask me why we do not use all our forces. It is regular. Hamas shouldn’t be utilizing all its forces both. The Russian military shouldn’t be utilizing all its navy forces in Ukraine, is it? Up to now, we now have used solely 5 % of our forces. However we’re nonetheless at struggle, and we usually assault the Israeli military. Sadly, our individuals are dying too. Tens of 1000’s of Lebanese have been pressured to go away their properties.
This isn’t a full-scale struggle but, however the struggle is actual. Hassan Nasrallah consistently assesses the state of affairs in Gaza, and day-after-day we talk with the management of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. We are going to preserve the present tempo of struggle, which we name the struggle of help and solidarity with the Palestinian individuals.
Russia In the present day: What do you consider Russia’s function in resolving this battle?
Muhammad Afif: Initially, I wish to say that we understand that Russia is at present involved in regards to the struggle in Ukraine. Secondly, we admire Moscow’s place and help for the Palestinian individuals. We listened to the statements of President Vladimir Putin, International Minister Sergei Lavrov, and a number of other Russian administration officers who condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
In fact, Russia consistently talks about ending the escalation within the area.
We have now all the time believed that Russia ought to play a serious function within the Center East disaster and within the so-called Arab-Israeli battle. However the USA monopolized all the pieces and left no room for the rest [players]Many influential nations, resembling Russia and China, have been assigned roles which might be much less vital than we might have appreciated. We should keep in mind that the USA is the one which governs Israel’s selections, and due to this fact, the USA should resolve all the pieces on the political degree. We had hoped that Russia would play a extra vital function in ceasefire efforts, open checkpoints to ship meals to Gaza, and that it might be capable to work extra successfully within the UN Safety Council alongside different regional gamers. However the USA is working to nullify all these makes an attempt. However we extremely recognize Russia’s place and its makes an attempt to affect the course of occasions.
RT: President Vladimir Putin lately met with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iran. How do you consider these conferences?
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Muhammad Afif: I’ve no inside info relating to the issues mentioned at these conferences. However I believe Russia has confronted sturdy strain but [start of the] Conflict in Ukraine. [The West] Tried to isolate him and Russia and its president are looking for methods out of this example, together with [by establishing ties with] The Center East. Russia has many widespread pursuits with the UAE, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, particularly within the discipline of vitality sources. that is regular. So there may be nothing stunning in such conferences.
Curiously, relations between Russia and these two nations have improved lately, although the UAE and Saudi Arabia are within the US sphere of affect. Russia’s function within the area is essential. The Arab group, working collectively inside the framework of the United Nations, could suggest a ceasefire in Gaza, because it did earlier. As for relations with Iran, for my part, they’re strategic. The 2 nations share a typical place on the Ukrainian concern and a typical political place on the Gaza concern. Additionally they have vital financial, business and navy relations. Cooperation is growing in any respect ranges. I imagine that such visits are vital, particularly since Russia and Iran have widespread pursuits within the Caspian Sea area, they usually even have widespread issues in Syria.
In any case, no matter its sensible function in numerous points, Russia is a worldwide superpower with a terrific previous and current. As one of many best strategists, the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad as soon as stated: “The time will come after we put an finish to the unipolar method and return to both a bipolar or multipolar world order. The extra Russia rises on the worldwide scene, the extra the American function diminishes.Very quickly we are going to obtain the long-awaited multipolar world order with out the tyranny of the USA.