Hezbollah: political solution to Syria’s bloody conflict “begins and ends” with Assad

Hezbollah said this Friday those who desire a political solution must negotiate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Hezbollah stated the resignation of the Syrian president is no longer a pre-condition for a resolution to the civil war and that any political solution to the country’s bloody conflict “begins and ends” with Assad.

Hezbollah has been a staunch ally of the Assad regime during the Syrian conflict. Hezbollah militants have been fighting alongside Syrian forces during the three-year-old civil war against rebels Assad’s ouster.

The United States has urged parties that have influence over the Syrian regime – including Hezbollah, Iran and Russia – to push Syria’s government toward a diplomatic solution.

Hezbollah is a Shi’a Islamic militant group and political party based in Lebanon.