In unusual remark Aoun says Lebanon will respond if Israel attacks it
Aoun made the remarks in an exclusive interview conducted this week with French daily Le Figaro, Albawaba reports.
“Hezbollah doesn’t play a military role inside Lebanon, and doesn’t carry out provocations along the border with [Israeli-] occupied territories,” he said.
Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia militia and political force that enjoys considerable influence, especially in Shia-majority Southern Lebanon.
Answering questions about Hezbollah’s role inside the country, Aoun said the group’s sizeable weapons arsenal “is linked to the regional situation, especially the conflict in neighboring Syria”.
“Hezbollah's support base constitutes more than one third of the Lebanese people,” Aoun told Le Figaro, adding that “international pressure” on the group was “increasing”.
