White House Condemns Hizbullah-backed Assault on Qusayr
The United States on Wednesday condemned a Hizbullah-backed assault on the Syrian town of Qusayr, saying the party's involvement threatens Lebanon's stability.
A White House statement condemned the Syrian regime's attack on the town, "which has killed untold numbers of civilians and is causing tremendous humanitarian suffering.”
"It is clear that the regime could not contest the opposition's control of Qusayr on its own, and is depending upon Hizbullah and Iran to do its work for it in Qusayr," the statement said.
White House spokesman Jay Carney renewed a call for Hizbullah and Iran to withdraw their fighters from Syria.
The rebels admitted "this is a round that we have lost,” but added they would fight on against "the thousands of Lebanese mercenaries" -- an apparent reference to Hizbullah.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the army and fighters from the party had taken Qusayr after an "intense bombardment" Tuesday night.
Carney also said the Syrian regime blatantly violated Lebanon's sovereignty by mounting a cross-border attack Wednesday on the northeastern town of Arsal near the Syrian border.
Source: Agence France Presse, Associated Press
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