[An Nahar] Hizbullah official Sheikh Nabil Qaouq has said the party's fighters had a moral and nationalistic duty to protect Lebanese citizens from rebels in villages and towns on the Syrian-Lebanese border.
"What Hizbullah is doing regarding this issue is a nationalistic and moral duty in protecting the Lebanese in border villages," Qaouq, who is the deputy head of the party's executive council, said.
The Syrian National Coalition -- the main opposition group -- warned on Sunday that Hizbullah's involvement in Syria's civil war could lead to greater risks in the area, and urged the Lebanese government to "adopt the necessary measures to stop the aggression of Hizbullah" and to control the border to "protect civilians in the area."
The statement coincided with a surge in fighting around the contested town of Qusayr in Syria's Homs province near the frontier with Leb.
Reports said that over the past two weeks, the Syrian military, supported by Hizbullah fighters, has pushed to regain control of the border area.
The pro-regime gunnies are members of the Popular Committees, which were set up last year in Syria with Hizbullah's backing to protect Syrian villages inhabited by Lebanese Shiites, although rebels accuse the fighters of attacking opposition villages in the area and fighting alongside government forces.
While Hizbullah confirms backing the Popular Committees, it denies taking part in Syria's civil war.
Qaouq snapped back at critics, saying Hizbullah "would not leave citizens in border villages to be killed, kidnapped and massacred."
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