Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam emphasized his country’s support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and accused the United States of labeling it as a terrorist organization and demanding the freezing of its assets. During a meeting with journalists and writers in the Syrian capital, Khaddam stated that Syria is being targeted with accusations against Hezbollah and asserted that they will defend themselves if words turn into action.
Khaddam firmly rejected the American list that includes Islamic and Arab organizations resisting Israel. He urged Arab officials to interpret the resolution in a way that distinguishes between legitimate resistance against occupation and terrorism, aligning with Lebanon’s stance on the matter.
Furthermore, Khaddam criticized UN Security Council Resolution 1373 issued on September 28, which calls for freezing the funds of so-called terrorist organizations and imposing sanctions on countries that fail to comply. He argued that the resolution provides cover for targeting any Arab country under the pretext of combating terrorism while exempting military action against any Arab or Islamic nation due to its potential severe consequences.
Lebanon officially rejected the US request to freeze Hezbollah’s assets, which was announced five days prior and included Hezbollah on a list of 22 organizations and individuals considered terrorists by Washington. The US administration expressed dissatisfaction with Lebanon’s position and concerns over potential negative effects on the Lebanese economy.
