(AHN) - Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah admitted that his group receives weapons and money from Iran via Syria. However, he also added that the group that fought the Israelis in last summer's month-long war, also received support and from other 'moderate' Arab countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.In an interview with Dr. Saad El Din Ibrahim for the Kuwaiti daily newspaper Al Rai Al Aam, Nasrallah told Ibrahim - who is a vocal opponent of the Egyptian regime in Cairo - that it is no secret that Iran is aiding Hezbollah. Nasrallah also said that his group had miscalculated in last summer's war, which was triggered by the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers that sparked the Jewish state's bombardment of their northern neighbor. "Perhaps we erred, only God does not make mistakes, and we have apologized to the Lebanese people for this and have paid a heavy price in blood. We do not hesitate to sacrifice our children in the name of our righteous struggle," Nasrallah said.
In response to Ibrahim's question of becoming a pan-Arab leader Nasrallah quickly denied any such ambitions, saying that Lebanon is the only arena in the region that Hezbollah will take an active role in. "My agenda is based on one principle, ridding the oppression and injustice from which the Shiite sect in Lebanon suffers and turning the Shiites into genuine partners in leading and creating the state, and removing the Israeli threat," Nasrallah continued.
Haaretz reported that Ibrahim said he met with Nasrallah a few days before in Lebanon. Haaretz also identified Ibrahim as the chair of Cairo's Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies.