BEIRUT: The Tyre branch of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) in Lebanon said Monday that Syria was paying the price of its rejectionist stances and its support for the resistance.

“Syria is paying the bill for its rejectionist stance and [support for the] resistance but it shall remain the axis of resistance and rejectionism and remains the spearhead in the confrontation with Zionist aggression and occupation,” SSNP official Wael Hassnieh said during a ceremony marking the the birthday of the party’s late founder, Antun Saadeh.

Saadeh, regarded as the founder of modern Syrian nationalism, was tried and executed by the state in 1949 following a failed uprising.

Hassnieh said the United States sought to protect Israel after it pulled out of Iraq but that it had been surprised by the strength of Syria, “and the unity of the army and the support of Syrians for their leadership.”

He said the source of unrest in the Arab region could be traced back to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The crisis in the region today that impacts the security of the region and the world is summarized by the issue of the Palestinians,” he said.