US, allies benefiting from Lebanon unrest to advance own interests: Hezbollah official

A high-ranking official from the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are taking advantage of the anti-government protests in the country in order to attain their own political objectives.

Vice President of the Executive Council of Hezbollah, Sheikh Ali Damoush said on Wednesday that his movement distinguishes between the righteous demands of protesters and the political schemes of those who are exploiting the mass protest movement to achieve their own goals.

"It is wrong to confuse the sufferings of people and their real demands with the political projects, which seek to take advantage of the state of corruption in the country."

“It is now clear that the United States and its allies have infiltrated into the ranks of the protest movement, and are trying to guide it. They have a political plot that they want to impose on Lebanon. The economic and corruption issues in Lebanon are their last concerns,” Damoush said.

The senior Hezbollah official then attributed the financial crisis in Lebanon to sanctions imposed on the country, Lebanese companies’ deterrence to invest in Syria due to the fear of triggering Washington's punitive sanctions on themselves, closure of some banks and financial institutions, and preventing China, Russia and other interested countries from directly investing there.

“America does not intend to address Lebanon’s economic and living conditions, and help the Lebanese get rid of their sufferings. It rather wants to get rid of the elements of their supremacy, including (Hezbollah) resistance movement, to allay Israel, ensure its security and return Lebanon back to the time of weakness. This is what (US Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo meant when he said 'Lebanon and the Lebanese should be helped to get rid of Iran's influence,'” Damoush highlighted.

Damoush said Washington seeks to add fuel to the flames of street protests, and is pushing for the formation of a subordinate government in order to implement their projects, which begin with demarcation of borders with the Israeli-occupied territories in accordance with the Tel Aviv regime’s conditions, plunder of Lebanon’s crude oil and natural gas reserves, advancement of settlement projects and targeting the resistance movement.

SS