Following are excerpts from a public address delivered by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, which aired on Al-Manar TV on May 25, 2013:
Hassan Nasrallah: "Syria is the back of the resistance. It is the supporter of the resistance. The resistance cannot stand idly by while its back is being exposed and its support is being broken. I say this loud and clear. We are not stupid. Only a stupid person would watch death, siege, and conspiracy closing in on him without lifting a finger. Only a stupid person would do this. A reasonable, responsible person lives up to his obligations in full.
"My brothers and sisters, if Syria falls into the hands of the U.S., Israel, the people who accuse others of heresy, and all of America's pawns, which purport to be leading countries in the region, the resistance will find itself under siege, and Israel will invade Lebanon, in order to impose its terms on the Lebanese people, and in order to revive its aspirations and schemes. Then, Lebanon will embark upon another Israeli era.
"If Syria falls, Palestine will be lost. The resistance in Palestine will be lost. Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem will be lost.
[...]
"We do not force our young men to go to the front. In all 30 years of our history, no one has ever been sent to the front against his will. They all go there willingly. Today, we have to regulate the flow [of volunteers], due to the great enthusiasm of our mujahideen.
[...]
"I do not need to declare Jihad. I just need to say the word, and tens of thousands of mujahideen will go to those fronts."
[...]
