Hizbullah Denies Pulling out of Syria

Hizbullah has denied reports about the withdrawal of its fighters from Syria following the decision of President Vladimir Putin for Russian personnel to begin pulling out from the war-torn country.

"False messages have been disseminated about the partial withdrawal of Hizbullah fighters” from Syria, a Hizbullah official told RIA Novosti Russian state news agency.

Al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front also claimed that it is preparing to launch a new offensive in Syria within the next 48 hours.

But the Hizbullah official warned the media “not to fall in the trap of such lies and rumors.”

Sources close to Hizbullah also denied in remarks to pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that Hizbullah is planning to withdraw from Syria where it is backing President Bashar Assad against the rebels seeking to topple him.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told the newspaper that Hizbullah has lately carried out replacements within the ranks of its fighters.

He ruled out any possible pullout of the party from the neighboring country in the near future.

There were high hopes this week that Russia's withdrawal would give a push to peace talks being held in Geneva to try to end Syria's brutal five-year conflict.

Putin ordered on Monday the "main part" of Russia's forces out of Syria, but pledged to keep some air and naval bases there.

The Syrian war has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.

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