Hezbollah has today, Thursday, declared Lebanon's fate under various possibilities, announcing that a ship has set off from Iran loaded with fuel towards the country, threatening military escalation if the ship is intercepted, despite European and American sanctions still imposed on Iranian oil exports.
Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah stated in a speech today: "Our first ship will depart in a few hours from Iran loaded with diesel, followed by other ships."
Potential Escalation
In what resembles a warning to the United States and Israel, he said, "The ship will be Lebanese territory as soon as it sets sail," indicating the possibility of military escalation at a time when Lebanon is facing one of its worst economic and living crises in decades. He also claimed in a speech broadcasted by his Iran-funded Al-Manar TV, on the occasion of Ashura, "This ship and other ships will arrive safely."
Furthermore, he considered the fuel crisis to be "manufactured," stating, "If the state had intervened with a brave decision, as happened in recent days since the crisis began, we would not have seen the lines of shame."
"Iranian Province"
This statement is described by observers as dangerous amid a maritime conflict between Iran and Israel that has escalated in recent months. Lebanon cannot tolerate any military escalation amid catastrophic economic and living conditions.
In response, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri reacted to Nasrallah's statements by pointing out that considering Iranian ships as Lebanese territory represents "the height of undermining national sovereignty" and constitutes an unacceptable call to treat Lebanon as if it were an "Iranian province."
It is noteworthy that informed sources had previously reported to "Al Arabiya.net" that the leader of the Hezbollah militia, who insisted in July to allow Iranian tankers into Lebanon via the Port of Beirut, changed this idea based on advice from one of his allies, as Lebanon could not bear further sanctions. They agreed with Iranian leadership to make the Baniyas port in Syria the destination for Iranian oil tankers, which would later be transferred to Lebanon.
The country has been suffering from a severe fuel shortage for months, affecting several vital sectors, while black market traders and smugglers have become increasingly active throughout the country, seeking to sell at much higher prices than the official rate or smuggling to Syria. Hezbollah is often accused of turning a blind eye, or even being involved in these smuggling operations, as one of its supporting clerics previously stated that "smuggling operations to Syria are an act of resistance," as he put it.
