March 14 Denounces Israeli Raid: It is Clear Evidence of Hizbullah's Involvement in Syria

The March 14 General Secretariat condemned on Wednesday the Israeli airstrike on Hizbullah fighters in Syria's Golan, however, considering it as clear evidence of the party's involvement in the fighting in the neighboring country, “which violates the broad Lebanese unanimity.”

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting, the General Secretariat stressed that Hizbullah insists, through its ongoing engagement in battles in Syria, on transferring sedition into Lebanon, despite all of its claims.

The General Secretariat reiterated calls on Hizbullah to "immediately" withdraw from Syria and return Lebanon under the state's conditions, as per the constitution.

The statement also warned the party from retaliating to Israel from Lebanon, underlining the importance of holding on to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which has proven its effectiveness.

"The Lebanese state is the sole authority tasked with safeguarding the country," it added.

Hizbullah said Israel carried out Sunday's strike on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, which killed Jihad Mughniyeh, a prominent Hizbullah fighter, a senior Iranian general, and five other party members.

Israel has gone on high alert for possible attacks by Hizbullah. It has beefed up its air defenses and increasing surveillance along its northern frontier following the airstrike.

The Jewish state and Hizbullah are bitter enemies and fought a bloody month-long war in the summer of 2006.

The General Secretariat also denounced the assault against Lebanese lawyers by Syrian counterparts on Sunday during a speech on terrorism at the Conference of Arab Lawyers in Cairo.

It valued Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi's initiative to follow up on the case, lauding the stances of the Beirut Bar Association and Tripoli Bar Association.

H.K.

M.T.