US call for Iran, Hezbollah withdrawal from Syria meaningless: Sheikh Qassem

Hezbollah says the US, whose pro-terror policies have faced defeat in Syria, is in no position to call for the withdrawal of Iranian advisors and allied Lebanese resistance fighters, who have emerged as “victors” of the war against terrorists in the Arab state.

Last week, Lebanon’s al-Akhbar daily reported that an American delegation, comprising security and intelligence officials, had visited Damascus in June and met President Bashar al-Assad’s special security advisor, Ali Mamlouk.

During the four-hour meeting, the report added, the delegation had set three conditions for the pullout of US military forces from Syria, including the withdrawal of Iranian advisors from southern Syria near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, data on “terrorist groups” and a role in the oil business in eastern Syria.

Speaking on Monday, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem described those conditions as “meaningless,” stressing that it is the “victors” who are eligible to set out conditions, not the US which has been defeated in Syria.

He also hailed the achievements made by the Syrian army and its allies against US-backed Takfiri terrorists.

Hezbollah and the Syrian government are now in the stage of “successive victories for Syria and its axis. We have lifted this black cloud, victories will continue, and we will achieve more,” the Hezbollah official noted.

He further called on “all factions counting on America” to “reconsider” their ties with the “Great Satan” as it is not loyal to its friends.

“They are Saudi Arabia’s allies, and tomorrow Saudi Arabia will see that the first strike it will get will be from America,” Qassem said.

The Syrian army has managed to drive the terrorists out of most parts of the country and end Daesh’s territorial rule with help from Iran, Hezbollah and Russia.

It is now on the verge of fully liberating the southern parts near the occupied Golan, prompting serious concerns in Tel Aviv, which supports the terrorists operating there against Damascus.

Syria is now preparing for an operation to liberate Idlib Province, the last major militant stronghold.

At the request of Damascus, Iran has been offering advisory military assistance to the Syrian army. Tehran says it will continue its anti-terror mission as long as the legitimate government in Damascus wants it to do so.

Hezbollah forces have also been assisting the Syrian government on the ground to clear areas bordering Lebanon from terrorist groups.

PressTV-Syria: Iran, Hezbollah presence not up for discussion

The Syrian deputy foreign minister says the presence of Iranian military advisers and Hezbollah units in Syria is the sovereign decision of Damascus.

In turn, Russia has also been providing air cover to Syrian army operations. It has also military advisors in the Arab country and runs a number of military bases there.

On the opposite front, the US – along with Israel and its other allies -- has been backing the militant groups fighting to topple the Assad government.

In an interview with the al-Alam News Network in June, Assad said the United States was an occupying power in Syria and that Damascus supported “any act of resistance, whether against terrorists or against occupying forces, regardless of their nationality.”

Washington has deployed around 2,000 troops to Syria.

US forces maintain significant presence in the country’s north, where they back Kurdish militants operating against the Syrian government.

The Russian military has repeatedly reported that the US uses the areas under its control in Syria to provide support to Takfiri terrorists.

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