White House Condemns Hizbullah Role in Syria, Fears Expansion of War

The White House on Tuesday condemned Hizbullah's "direct intervention" in the battle for the Syrian rebel stronghold of Qusayr, and slammed President Bashar Assad for seeking help from Iran.

A day after President Barack Obama called President Michel Suleiman to express concern over the role of the party in Syria, his spokesman Jay Carney amplified U.S. concerns about an expansion of the war.

"We have condemned and condemn again Hizbullah's direct intervention in the assault on Qusayr where the Hizbullah's fighters are playing a significant role in the regime's offensive," Carney said.

"Hizbullah's occupation of villages in Syria and its support for the regime and pro-Assad militias exacerbates and inflames regional sectarian tensions and perpetuates the regime's campaign of terror against the Syrian people".

Regarding Iran, Carney argued that it "says a lot about Assad that this is where he's looking for assistance."

Hizbullah's increasingly direct involvement has raised questions over whether it could tip the balance in the conflict away from the rebels and towards the Assad regime.

It also complicates the calculations of the Obama regime on whether to step up support for Syrian rebels -- to include direct military aid -- and as it to co-host a peace conference with Russia in Geneva next month.