Hezbollah Leader Vows to Protect Lebanon’s Oil, Gas Resources

Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah Movement Seyed Hassan Nasrallah said the movement is prepared to take the necessary measures to protect the country’s oil and gas resources.

“We call on the state to put forward a national strategic plan and if they want to leave it up to us, we are ready to defend Lebanon’s fossil fuel resources,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech on the occasion of Arbaeen, marking the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH).

“In order to protect the national oil resources, the resistance is ready to do whatever is asked of it,” Nasrallah said.

He described the potential reserves as “a national, historic opportunity” to lift Lebanon from its socioeconomic crisis.

Nasrallah further noted that if Lebanon one day utilizes its wealth itself, it can pay back its debts so that there will be no difficulty in relation to the law of paying wages and issues particularly related to the retired Lebanese people.

“Oil should not be dealt with from a partisan or regional perspective because oil at any location (whether in the south or in the north) belongs to all Lebanese people and it is an opportunity for bringing this country out of its present situation.”

Last year, the Hezbollah chief warned Zionist regime against attempts aimed at plundering Lebanon’s offshore gas and oil reserves and threatened to target Israel’s oil installations in case Lebanon’s oil facilities were attacked.