Hassan Nasrallah Announces Hezbollah Forces' Readiness to Withdraw from Iraq

Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah Lebanon, on Monday rejected accusations of sending weapons to Yemen and involvement in the missile attack on Riyadh's international airport, announcing the 'readiness of Hezbollah forces to withdraw from Iraq.' According to Reuters, Mr. Nasrallah stated in a televised speech on November 20 that Hezbollah's mission has ended with the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS). The Hezbollah leader also thanked Qassem Soleimani for what he described as 'his significant role in the fight against ISIS in the city of Boukamal in eastern Syria.' Reports indicate that at least five Iranian forces, including two senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were killed in recent operations in Boukamal, while the Arabic-language Islamic Republic News Network, Al-Alam, claims that the command of the operation to retake this area was under Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC. Iran has been accused by the U.S. and its regional allies of interfering in the affairs of Middle Eastern countries, with U.S. officials citing Iran's military presence in Iraq and Syria and its support for groups like Hezbollah, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and various militia groups in Iraq as examples of Iran's malign behavior. The announcement of 'Hezbollah's readiness to withdraw its forces from Iraq' comes after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated that now that the battle against ISIS is nearing its end, Iran-backed Shiite militias should leave Iraq and return home. Iranian and Iraqi officials' reactions to these statements suggested that they were referring to Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq, while Nasrallah's comments indicate that, in addition to Iranian forces and Iraqi Shiite militias, Hezbollah forces from Lebanon have also been involved in the conflicts in Iraq. Hezbollah, as an ally of Iran, has been accused by predominantly Sunni Arab countries of fueling sectarianism and supporting terrorism. However, Hassan Nasrallah, in his remarks on Monday, responded to the statements made by foreign ministers of Arab League member states at a Cairo meeting, calling the accusation of Hezbollah's support for terrorism 'repetitive' and 'regrettable.' He emphasized to the Arab League that 'I stress that we have not sent ballistic missiles, guns, or any advanced weapons to Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, or Iraq,' although he simultaneously acknowledged that the group has sent anti-tank missiles to 'occupied Palestine.' With rising tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the region, Riyadh has accused Hezbollah, which enjoys full support from the Islamic Republic, of providing military assistance to Houthi rebels in Yemen and militias in Bahrain. Riyadh also claims that Hezbollah played a role in the recent missile attack on the airport in the city, which was launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. However, Hassan Nasrallah responded that 'no one from Hezbollah Lebanon' had any role in firing this missile or those previously fired at Saudi Arabia. The foreign ministers of Arab League member states held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss strategies to counter Iran and Hezbollah and their role in the region. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah Lebanon protested the continued attacks by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen, questioning why Arab leaders have remained silent on this issue. He also stated on Monday that with the defeat of ISIS in Iraq, Hezbollah can withdraw its numerous forces from the country. Reuters reported another reaction from Michel Aoun, the President of Lebanon, to the Arab League's statement against Hezbollah, stating that the existence of this group is 'essential for resistance' against Israel. The Lebanese presidential palace published parts of Mr. Aoun's remarks during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Arab League on its Twitter account, stating that 'Israel continues to target us, and it is Lebanon's right to resist and thwart Israel's plans by any means necessary.' Hezbollah is part of Lebanon's coalition government, and the Arab League's accusation of the group being terrorist prompted Michel Aoun to emphasize that Lebanon does not accept these statements implying that his government is involved in terrorist activities. However, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, stated during this meeting that no one has accused the Lebanese government of terrorism and does not wish to harm Lebanon, but rather a part of the coalition government has been accused of terrorism, which means that the Lebanese government must engage in dialogue with this part and convince them to cease their activities in other Arab countries.