Hezbollah fighters in Syria will ‘go to hell’

BEIRUT

Hezbollah supporters gesture as they march during a ceremony in Beirut. The former secretary general condemned the group over its role in Syria. REUTERS photo

Former Secretary General of the Shiite Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has criticized the participation of the group’s fighters in the Syrian conflict, saying that those who are killed in Syria will “go to hell” and are not considered martyrs.

Sheikh Sobhi Tfaili “confirmed” this week during a televised interview that Hezbollah was fighting alongside the regime in Syria, according to al-Arabiya website.

“Hezbollah members who kill children, terrorize people and destroy houses in Syria will not be martyrs and will end up in hell,” Tfaili said, adding that Hezbollah fighters in Syria were only present to “defend the regime and its criminality.”

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged in October 2012 that party members had fought Syrian rebels but said they were acting as individuals and not under the party’s direction. The Rebel Free Syrian Army issued an ultimatum last week to Hezbollah to cease its operations in Syria or face attacks on its installations in Lebanon.