Hizbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has accused the United States of exploiting the September 11 attacks as a “legitimate pretext” to wage war and expand its military bases around the globe, it was reported on Tuesday.
Nasrallah’s remarks came in a gathering of an Islamic conference in a Beirut hotel.
"America has declared a war against an obscure enemy which it has called terrorism, and has given it an international dimension," AFP quoted the Shiite leader as saying.
"America talked about 60 countries linked [to terrorism] ... around the world, from Latin America to Europe, central Asia, the Gulf, the Middle East, Africa and the rest of Asia, in order to guarantee a legitimate and political pretext for expanding its bases and fleet around the world," he said.
Nasrallah warned that the US administration would "point the sword of terrorism [at] the necks of all those who oppose" its policies, AFP quoted him as saying.
He also called for pursuing the Palestinian uprising against Israel, with its "jihad," or holy war, operations, according to the agency.
Hizbollah also held a public rally at the ancient Lebanese city of Baalbak to mark the anniversary of the Palestinian Intifada, in which speakers hailed the Palestinians and accused Israel of foul play with the fresh ceasefire, the Lebanese daily Al Anwar reported on Tuesday.
Hizbollah spearheaded the fight against Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon which ended last May, and still mounts sporadic operations against Israeli forces on the disputed border - Albawaba.com
