Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.

:: In an exaggerated statement, Iran spoke of the role Hezbollah played for the sake of Lebanon and its people.

This was followed by a response from Samir Geagea, leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces, to the statement by the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani who spoke of what he referred to as the “favor” Hezbollah did for the government and the army in Lebanon.

Although, Hezbollah had a deal in late August to move ISIs militants from Al-Qalamoun al-Gharbi on the Lebanese-Syrian border to Deir al-Zour under the protection of its forces and that of the Syrian regime.

Geagea said in a statement on Wednesday that Shamkhani’s speech was not accurate, as the favor that Hezbollah takes credit for is serving the government and the army of Iran, not the Lebanese government.

As the enormous sacrifices made by Hezbollah were mainly to serve Iran extend its influence in the region starting with Syria, Yemen. Yet, the biggest favor the party has done was for propping up the regime of Bashar al-Assad because otherwise it would have toppled since the beginning of the Syrian revolution.

Iranian exaggeration

“If it were not for Hezbollah, Lebanon would have been hosting terrorists from around the world,” Shamkhani said Tuesday.

He added that “The government, army and people of Lebanon are now indebted to the sacrifices made by Hezbollah.”

The deal Hezbollah did with ISIS militants on 25 August was a source of great anger in Lebanon, as many politicians and activists consider it a shameful deal, and a betrayal of the Lebanese soldiers who fell at the hands of the ISIS organization in Arsal, and whose parents have received their remains last week.