As Assad Teeters, Hezbollah Gets Nervous

'Hezbollah fears the collapse of the Syrian regime, described by Nasrallah as â??more than a bridgeâ? in a reference to the countryâ??s role in the transit of Iranian arms. Losing an ally like that would weaken the Shiâ??a party in the event of a conflict with Israel because Hezbollahâ??s arms supplies would be cut off. Nasrallah however espouses a publicly confident stance, and has promised the Israelis some â??surprisesâ? if they attack Lebanon.

Nasrallah also stated that military strategy was more important than anything else for the party insofar as its relations with Syria go. It is no longer a question of defending â??the oppressedâ? as it has been maintaining in its political charters and by siding with the Egyptians, Libyans, Bahrainis and Yemenis since the beginning of the Arab Spring. Holding on to its weapons, upholding the "axis of resistance" -- Iran, Syria, Hezbollah â?? against Israel has become top priority.

But the price to be paid for Nasrallahâ??s refusal to condemn the Syrian regimeâ??s repression â?? which he prefers to refer to as â??violent actsâ? committed by both sides â?? is very high: nothing less than his degree of popularity in the Arab world. Syrian activists are now portraying Nasrallah on social media sites as a paunchy little man whereas before he was held in high esteem in Syria because of his anti-Israel stance.

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