Hizbullah Fighters Say a 'Duty' to Help Assad
As he pushes a cart full of tomatoes and cucumbers in the market at Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, nothing marks out Mahmoud as an experienced Hizbullah fighter.
The stocky vegetable vendor in his fifties, who sports a red beard, fought Israel in 2006, but that battle is now old news.
He has just come back from another front: in Syria, where he fought for 25 days against the rebels who have sought to overthrow President Bashar Assad for the past three years.
Since the Shiite movement's chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gave the order more than a year ago, thousands of Hizbullah fighters have fought in Syria, playing a decisive role in key victories for the regime.
Street vendors, farmers, restaurant owners, medical professionals and students have all joined what they call an "existential battle" against "takfiris" -- Sunni extremists.
"When the party called on me to go, I responded. I left my job and I went to stop the takfiris from entering Lebanon," says Mahmoud.
"I fought in several regions and took fighters from the region and elsewhere prisoner," he adds.
"Our cause is just. They are mercenaries from Chechnya, Yemen and Libya who want to overthrow Bashar Assad, who supported us enormously during the 2006 war against Israel," Mahmoud insists.
"It's our duty to help him."
Hizbullah presents its role as protecting Syria from Sunni-dominated rebels who they say want to overthrow the regime because they hate Alawites, including Assad, whose faith is an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
In another southern Lebanese village, Fatima has not let the death of her husband in the June 2013 battle for Syria's Qusayr stop her from encouraging her son to join the fight.
"I've send Khodr, with dozens of other young men, to do one month of training in Lebanon," she says.
"He must learn to handle weapons so that he can become a fighter like his father."
Next to her, Khodr sorts tobacco seedlings for planting. His beard is just coming in and his eyes are sad.
He wears a picture of his father around his neck and has a pin on his T-shirt bearing Nasrallah's picture and his phrase "Victory awaits us".
His older brother Wissam, 25, came back from Syria a week earlier.
"We obey Sayyed Hassan (Nasrallah) when he invites us to fight. My father died a martyr and we must follow his path," he says.
There are no official figures on how many Hizbullah fighters have been killed in Syria, but some put the toll at around 300.
"Should we let them come and kill us like sheep, like they have done to the Shiites in Iraq and Syria? No, we will defeat them as we defeated Israel," Wissam adds.
When they first began fighting in Syria, Hizbullah members refused to discuss their involvement, but now they talk about it with pride, while declining to offer details of their numbers or operations.
At a school in southern Lebanon, Hizbullah posters advertise scouting sessions, but the accompanying photos of young men in military uniforms suggest the training is more combat-based.
In some places, there are voices of dissent against the group's involvement in the conflict next door.
"They sent my son to his death without my approval. Who told them that I wanted my son to die in Syria?" one man asks, declining to be named for fear of incurring Hizbullah's wrath.
But that sentiment is rare among the party's constituents, who also know Hizbullah will support them if their loved ones are killed.
"My family's future is safe if I die. They'll take care of the schooling for my nine-year-old son and look after his health," says Osama, a 38-year-old party member in the city of Tyre.
In Baalbek, a Hizbullah stronghold in eastern Lebanon, 22-year-old Hussein is heading to Iran to undergo a commander training course.
The psychology student's parents are both party members and he has already fought in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.
"I'm very excited about going to Iran to become a battalion chief. It's a promotion," he says, under his mother's watchful eye.
11 April 2014, 15:42
105
lol. i'm sure even in your own country (israel) nobody would take you seriously.
11 April 2014, 17:23
63
LF, bro, I wish I could believe you on Cedre. Cedre's problem is his own doing, no anyone else's. I have been watching his posts for some times, it's always the same ranting of hatred, same goes for that estranged character knows as Bani Maarouf usually using his many other aliases. Take me for instance, I am and I remain pure LF, right up to the bones. I disagree a lot with people who are partisans of Hezbollah or the FPM, yet have I for once even engaged into disrespectful positions with them? Why should we hate each other, even if we disagree with each other, why the hatred? This is what Cedre and his likes don't want to accept, that hatred will lead us to zero, just let us put a full stop to this hatred and all will be fine.
11 April 2014, 19:21
46
Jnoubi- thank you. It is refreshing to know there is hope for us Lebanese when I read your comments and realize that not everyone is brainwashed. Please keep it up and ignore momo. The fact that he has to resort to calling you an Israeli because you opted to speak your mind freely says a lot about his character, or lack there of. Thanks again bud.
11 April 2014, 10:32
512
I'm a Muslim (Sunni), I don't believe been called Sunni, Islam is Islam it's not Sunni Shia ....it's just one way and only one way of practicing Islam (following the Quran and the the teaching (Sunna) of the prophet Mohamed Sws.).
SOME if not a lot of Shia completely miss practice this great religion .... For example some believe it is better to kill a Sunni then a Jew it's good to steel from a Sunni ... For a sect like the Shia to hate and despise 3 of the 4 closest companions of the prophet Mohamed (Sws) places a massive vote of none confidence against the prophet (Sws). I don't hate them I hope they see their mistake in their practice just like I hope the takfiris see their hypocracy and massive misrepresentation of Islam.
11 April 2014, 11:40
179
I've never heard a Shiite say they hate Sunnis or even speak badly about an individual because that person was Sunni .... But I have heard many Sunni say how much they hate Shiites or someone purely because he was a Shiite.
I'm not a Muslim but this is what I've heard and seen for my self.
11 April 2014, 12:13
713
I've never heard a Sunni say they hate Shiites or even speak badly about an individual because that person was Shiite .... But I have heard many Shiites say how much they hate Sunnis or someone purely because he was a Sunni.
I'm not a Muslim but this is what I've heard and seen for my self.
11 April 2014, 12:37
48
liberty, plenty of sectarian sunnis/shias/chrisians/jews/sikhs/ hindus...
11 April 2014, 13:52
114
Ado, I regret to say that Cedre is one such hater. His posts have always been consistent with hatred, Cedre, just one of those many haters in this forum.
11 April 2014, 13:56
114
Well said Cedre, then please justify your sectarian hatred here, in front of everyone. If one criticizes a Sunni personality, then you'll twist it into personal insults, using sectarianism as your base. yet for all the diatribes you engaged into since yesterday, no one replicated you in kind, so here we are, the arena is all yours, can you deny that you are a sectarian to the bones? In fact, there are quite a few like you here, some who sound exactly like two drops of water, same blip.
11 April 2014, 15:34
94
cedre please do you have a blurrier video? on this one we can still see the lips are not synced with the speech, kinda harms your noble efforts to promote hatred.
11 April 2014, 15:39
94
and guys please (talking to those with brains, don't mind this cedre and liberty)
can we stop taking "shisha smokers ok bekaa terrace" and "tomatoes and cucumbers cart pushers" stories for more then they are? ie: literature straight out of some AFP goon's imagination.
seriously, there are so many cliches in those stories, it's like an encyclopedia.
plus, i dont know if you ever saw journalists working, but this one claims to have been to Tyre, Bint Jbeil, Baalbeck and other "southern villages" for just this article... yea right.
11 April 2014, 16:10
75
People, take it easy on cedre. his is not a hater of shias. True he is misguided in regards to the palestinians, but he is a patriot who is upset of HA's growing influence. that is it.
11 April 2014, 18:23
74
lol just keep gobbling stories, not going to bother outlining the fallacies entangled in this, because anyway you aren't willing to distinguish.
this story suits your preconceptions, so just gobble it. who cares?
11 April 2014, 18:41
74
lol anonyme, you really see yourself as something really important, and grossly overestimate yourself. it's amusing.
keep thinking you "exposed" stuff and are all that big deal. i dont care.
as i said many times before, i'm just not interested in debating with someone who is of such bad faith, keeps asking me to waste my time providing facts and then runs away instead of recognizing them. your opinion has no importance whatsoever, and you're one of those willingly blind people, nothing can be done for you.
11 April 2014, 21:13
35
FT - ... Souri Min Canada ??? What!!! Are you talking about ... I'm Lebanese / Canadian working and living in Lebanon!!!
You scare me man! are you using hizbshitan's illiegal phone/internet network in Lebanon to spy on me?!!!
I'm going to encrypt and beef up my firewall connections from now on...
That might not be enough though considering your Hizbshitan is using NSA & Mousad supper anti firewall encryption technics
11 April 2014, 11:02
57
Extremist Shiia fighting extremist and non extremist Sunni...that's all.
11 April 2014, 15:53
48
I'm very excited about going to Iran to become a battalion chief. It's a promotion," he says, under his mother's watchful eye.
Are you proud of that connection Mowaten?
11 April 2014, 17:32
57
momo- I have a prediction for you. you are going to keep going around and insulting people by calling them bums and gradually escalating until you get banned. Then you are going to come back with more dots or wings and complain on how the M14 mods want to censor you because they can't handle the truth. Just like HA, you are always the perpetrator yet love to play the victim.
11 April 2014, 18:24
84
is it like the prediction that Assad fell 239,34896 times since 2011?
11 April 2014, 18:27
84
ps: "bum" is not an insult, it means a hobo, an incompetent person. and if you cant deal with the truth and hysterically have to report it, then so be it, i'll add a dot and so what?
at least i keep my screen name, not like you goons creating tens of accounts to support yourselves.
11 April 2014, 18:39
56
momo- your responses only further proves my point. Calling someone a hobo and incompetent is not an insult? you crack me up! so if I was to refer to you as incompetent or a bum or a hobo, you would take that as a compliment? you have some serious issues about accepting the truth and taking responsibility for your actions when confronted. BTW, I may have changed my screen name twice (LebanonFirst and Hulk Smash) but have never had more than one account and have never been banned. Same account, just opted for a new screen name. That is a heck of lot more than you can ever say!
11 April 2014, 18:52
74
oh so if it's not a compliment it's necessarily an insult? lol, whatever, i dont care what you think, from the second i see your alias i know we have nothing in common.
11 April 2014, 11:14
73
When i see all hese wars and when both sides beive they will go to heaven....i am so proud to be Christian
11 April 2014, 12:52
67
Seriously? If you wanna go religion than let's do it. Crusaders have been killing, torturing and crucifying for the last 2000 yrs. They have raped and brutally killed young children's. Christianity have tons of sects and each sects claims that he have the path to salvation. Spare us your bullshit, because religion got nothing to do with it. WE human are the ones to blame, we create these chaos and claim we are defending the words of God.
11 April 2014, 15:12
55
NA, name a country or group that claims Christianity that is a crusader that kills in the name of God in the past 100 years. In all sincerity I may be in the dark.
11 April 2014, 15:43
73
lol zahle, george bush junior went to war in iraq, killing hundreds of thousands of people in the process, because god told him to do so.
11 April 2014, 17:27
52
NA, you sound familiar, ran out of skeletons? I was about to answer you on this, but Zahle has done it in eloquent style, so what says thee Sir?
11 April 2014, 11:50
67
future takeover ? they took over lebanon officially on 7 ayar, we're nothing more than an iranian protectorate. Only few people still resisting...
11 April 2014, 11:51
44
Hibulla's duty is to come back, disarm, and turn to a political party only!
11 April 2014, 20:00
40
Mowaten, please brother, keep your calm, there's no need for all that, just let's debate it, neat and clean. A fraternal nudge bro.
11 April 2014, 22:43
25
Oooooo... :) Momo is not happy :)
Go blow yourself in Syria you uneducated thug!
11 April 2014, 12:45
32
I am happy that extremist sunnis kill extremist shiites .. hope they will finish off each other soon and we can live in piece ..
11 April 2014, 13:09
10
@Liberty
question for you
are you going to southern California?
11 April 2014, 13:28
31
Yes coolmec. I've lived in Miami since 5th grade. I have been thinking about relocating to California for many years now. A few months back, I visited Southern California on company business. I got an inter-company transfer beginning June of this year. Most likely, I will be living in the Redondo Beach area as it is closer to my workplace.
11 April 2014, 13:35
31
I live there
where about in So Cal?
funny I will be in Miami by month end
11 April 2014, 13:36
21
BTW my American roots are in florida
Daytona Beach more precisely
11 April 2014, 13:37
21
Sorru missed Redondo Beach which I know very well
I live in Newport beach
11 April 2014, 13:54
41
Funny you mention Newport Beach coz we visited it during my last trip. We stopped for a look at the Ferrari dealership on the West Coast Highway...wow! I also met a great guy who posts sometimes on this forum. He lives in La Jolla, my oh my!
11 April 2014, 13:59
10
Newport is nice indeed been there for years
The guy who posts here I assume you are referring to ice_man I also chatted with him he is a nice guy
BTW have you visited fashion island while you were on PCH (coast hwy)
11 April 2014, 14:01
21
BTW there is a Lamborghini dealership there it is owned by a Lebanese Armenian whom I know well
11 April 2014, 14:31
31
lol, yes saw that too! We had cocktails and dinner @ Fig & Olive Fashion Island:)
11 April 2014, 14:35
21
Liberty
Very cool I usually go to el torito Rest They have great drinks good crowd and within stumbling distance from my house
11 April 2014, 14:38
21
Actually Fashion Island has great places to eat and drink My office is there and I live within striking distance. Well I got to go
but stay in touch maybe we run in to each other one day. Leaving Beirut shortly to Miami then home
Later Bro
11 April 2014, 13:45
44
Hezbollah's Duty is to help Assad ???
And Roar, Mowaten, FT and Southern believed the BS that Hezbollah was there to protect Lebanon and only to protect Lebanon.
How do you explain that you M8 ignorant fools ?
Assad brings peace and stability to Lebanon ? Assad brings security to Lebanon and guarantees our freedom ?
Hezbollah does not protect Lebanon, never has and never will. Their only role is to protect Shiias and Assad (temporarily) which provides them with their life-line !
11 April 2014, 14:20
27
@ Jnoubi It makes me so happy to read a post like yours. It gives the person reading it hope that not all Lebanese are sectarian bigots who think of no one but themselves and their sect. I wish we all can look in the mirror and see what you saw, the truth that there is fault in every sect and it needs correcting. Your criticism of your own sect is forward thinking. I wish we can all see the dirt in our mist.
11 April 2014, 16:57
26
This is a direct result of brain washing. So sad! that is the only thing that kept going through mind as I was reading this article. Just SAD.
11 April 2014, 17:31
36
My jihadi children and brothers, you cannot imagine how relieved I am to find that you are all drinking the Kool-Aid we are supplying to the areas were our Be2at al 7adinat dwell, it's a very cool refreshing drink don't you know. When the owner of the times and of our minds and souls the Ayatollah came up with the idea, a few skeptics within the party did not think it will work. I mean think about it, when our Iranian bearded God on earth in a swami getup fatwad to regularly drink and distribute the Kool-Aid to all our members and supporters, except Hajj Mohamed Raad who fell in the potion when he wad a child, we did not know it was so refreshing and then some. But it is refreshing, follow the following clip of moi to find out more about the refreshing effects and benefits of drinking the ayatollah's Kool-Aid.. Bottoms up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knAA-glMEEM
