Hezbollah chief vows ‘victory’ against Syrian opposition fighters

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday vowed “victory” in the fight against Syrian opposition fighters, saying his group is committed to its choice in the conflict and will accept all sacrifices and consequences of it.

“I say to all the honorable people, to the mujahedeen, to the heroes: I have always promised you a victory and now I pledge to you a new one” in Syria, he said at a ceremony marking the 13th anniversary of Israel’s military withdrawal from Lebanon.

Nasrallah says Hezbollah members are fighting in Syria against Islamic extremists who pose a danger to Lebanon.

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Supporters of Hezbollah and relatives of Hezbollah member Hussein Ahmad Abu Hasan carry his coffin during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs May 21, 2013. (Reuters)

Supporters of Hezbollah and relatives of Hezbollah member Hussein Ahmad Abu Hasan carry his coffin during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs May 21, 2013. (Reuters)

Relatives mourn during the funeral of Hezbollah member Hussein Ahmad Abu Hasan in Beirut’s suburbs May 21, 2013. (Reuters)

Supporters of Hezbollah and relatives of Hezbollah member Hussein Ahmad Abu Hasan carry his coffin during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs May 21, 2013. (Reuters)

Demonstrators carry a poster depicting a caricature of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (R) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, during a protest in Kafranbel, near Idlib May 24, 2013. (Reuters)

Nasrallah’s comments Saturday marked the first time he has publically confirmed his men were fighting in Syria.

They are also his first since Hezbollah fighters have become deeply involved in the battle for of the central Syrian town of Qusair.

He said tens of thousands of Islamic extremists from all over the world have been sent to Syria to fight the regime, but Hezbollah sends “a few” fighters and it is accused of intervening in the conflict.