Syria crisis forces Hassan Nasrallah out of his hideout

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

BEIRUT - Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed Tuesday to arm his fighters more heavily than ever as he

Attempt to prove popularity amid increasing pressure

Increasing pressure on Hezbollah for its support of Assad regime forces Nasrallah to leave his hideout for first time since 2008.

made his first public appearance since 2008 before a frenzied crowd in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Marking the Shiite commemoration of Ashura, Nasrallah spoke to the crowd of thousands assembled in his stronghold for only a few minutes before being whisked away by nervous-looking bodyguards.

In a speech broadcast on large screens to the crowd shortly after his departure, Nasrallah vowed his Iranian-backed group would continue to arm regardless of "regional change," hinting at neighbouring Syria.

"A message to all those who are conspiring against the resistance and banking on change (in the Arab world)... We will never let go of our arms," said the black-clad Shiite leader.

"Day after day, the resistance gains more fighters, trains better fighters and arms even more heavily.

"We are increasing in numbers and in weapons ... and for those who are betting that our weapons are rusting, we say that our weapons are being renewed," Nasrallah added.

Nasrallah has rarely been seen in public since his Shiite Muslim group battled Israel in a monthlong war in 2006, fearing Israeli assassination. Since then, he has communicated with his followers and gives news conference mostly via satellite link.

Nasrallah's appearance is meant to portray confidence at a time of upheaval in the Middle East and particularly in Syria, which along with Iran is Hezbollah's backer.

Syrians and Arabs around the region have in recent years elevated Nasrallah to the status of a nationalist hero after his guerrillas' 2006 war with Israel.

Since the Syrian uprising, however, Syrians have unleashed their anger at Hezbollah over its blunt support for the regime of President Bashar Assad. Some protesters in Syria have set fire to the yellow flag of Hezbollah and pictures of Nasrallah.

Nasrallah reiterated his support for Assad's regime Tuesday, accusing the United States of seeking to destroy Syria "to make up for its defeat in Iraq."

Ashura marks the anniversary of the death in the seventh century of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) grandson Imam Hussein. His death in a battle outside of the Iraqi city of Karbala sealed Islam's historical Sunni-Shiite split, which still bedevils the Middle East.

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