Hezbollah announces fuel ship to leave Iran for Lebanon

Published on : 08/19/2021 – 12:25

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Thursday, August 19, that an Iranian ship loaded with fuel was about to set sail from Iran for Lebanon, a country facing serious shortages, despite US sanctions against Tehran.

This “first ship”, from its departure “until its arrival in the waters of the Mediterranean, will be considered Lebanese territory”, proclaimed Hassan Nasrallah, in a speech delivered on the occasion of the commemoration of Ashura.

“To the Americans and Israelis I say: this is Lebanese territory,” he insisted, while several recent maritime incidents have raised tensions in the waters of the Gulf.

Supply “hospitals, pharmacies, food stores …”

Last month, Hassan Nasrallah announced that his movement was ready to import fuel from his Iranian ally. A decision that, according to him, the Lebanese government could not take due to pressure from the United States, which is imposing severe economic sanctions against Tehran in the context of the nuclear issue of the Islamic Republic.

The cargo of this “first” ship should allow to supply “hospitals, pharmacies, food stores, bakeries and generators”, added the head of Hezbollah.

However, he did not specify where and how this cargo would be unloaded. When the ship is in the Mediterranean, “we will discuss the technical details,” he said.

Lebanon is stuck in one of the worst economic crises in the world since the mid-19th century^e century, according to the World Bank.

Power shortages lead to blackouts peaking at 22 hours a day. Neighborhood generators, who usually take over, are victims of the fuel shortage.

Faced with the country’s catastrophic situation, the political class, of which Hezbollah is one of the most influential members, has failed for more than a year to form a new government, a condition set by the international community to provide direct aid to the country. Lebanese State.

With AFP