BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A Lebanese lawmaker from Hezbollah's political wing said the Shiite resistance movement hasn't sent fighters to Syria to fight alongside the military.
Kamel Rafai, a member of the Lebanese Parliament from Hezbollah's Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, told The Daily Star newspaper in Beirut it was against the movement's platform to fight in Syria.
"The party has a basic rule that forbids fighting anyone other than Israel and thus it bans its elements from fighting in Syria," he said. "I can definitely say Hezbollah bans fighting in Syria because it could never approve hostility against Muslims."
The United Nations estimates around 18,000 people have died as a result of the 18-month civil war in Syria. The government there says it's fighting an armed resistance.
The U.S. Treasury Department last month sanctioned Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and two other leaders for supporting Syrian forces.
David Cohen, U.S. undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said that, under Nasrallah's direction, Hezbollah is providing training and logistical support to the Syrian military.
Nasrallah in July said the only solution to the crisis in Syria was through political dialogue but he expressed confidence with the Syrian military's ability to control the situation.
