Lebanon welcomes arrival of Iranian fuel from Hezbollah

A woman throws flower petals and rice as an oil tanker passes by, al-Ain, northeast Lebanon, September 16, 2021. REUTERS - ISSAM ABDALLAH

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2 min

On Thursday, September 16, Hezbollah delivered a first convoy of trucks loaded with Iranian fuel oil "via" an informal border crossing point with Syria.

Tehran's powerful ally says he wants to relieve the drastic shortages in the country of the Cedars.

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Laure Stéphan

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, activity is slowing down: the effect of the crisis and

shortages

. Generators sometimes take over from the lack of state electricity. Everyone here is delighted with the arrival of this

first convoy of tankers

loaded with Iranian fuel oil. A very political operation: Hezbollah defies the United States by importing fuels under sanction.

 The sworn enemy of Washington and Israel

accuses the Americans of having financially strangled Lebanon. 

Young trader, Jad considers that the arrival of Iranian fuel oil in Lebanon will not solve everything, but he sees it as the beginning of a way out of the crisis.

"

This opens up the possibility that countries that fear that Lebanon will come under Iran's control get involved and in turn help the country,

" he said.

 They may react and help Lebanon more, there will be a kind of competition in aid.

Even if, of course, Lebanon must first rescue itself. 

"

It's a victory against the Americans and for the Lebanese 

"

Rokaya, a staunch supporter, holds a photo of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. On her phone, she watches videos of the fuel convoy entering Lebanon. “

We're very happy, it's a victory for us,”

she says. 

We are under a siege and a lot of pressure. Our leader, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, succeeded: he brought fuel oil into Lebanon. He wants to relieve Lebanon. It is a victory against the Americans and for the Lebanese, even if some do not agree with this operation. But all of Lebanon will benefit from it. It is not aimed primarily at Shiite regions, but at all of Lebanon.

"

Other residents say they are waiting to see the impact on daily life.

The government formed last week did not react to the arrival of this fuel convoy under US sanctions.

Also to listen: Lebanon: can the new government solve the crisis?

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