BEIRUT: Hezbollah is now stronger and more popular thanks to its parliamentary majority and a Cabinet that supports the resistance, the deputy head of Hezbollah's Executive Council Sheikh Nabil Qaouk said Sunday. 

“The resistance in Lebanon today is stronger politically and more popular with the existence of a parliamentary majority and popular base and a government that does not betray the resistance and listen to U.S. talks ... [the government] protects Lebanon's position and identity,” Qaouk said during a political gathering in south Lebanon. 

The Hezbollah-backed March 8 alliance holds a majority in Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s Cabinet, which replaced former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s government following the resignation of March 8 ministers from Hariri’s Cabinet, forcing its collapse in January.  

Last week, Mikati’s Cabinet and the ministerial statement received the parliamentary vote of confidence, after March 14 MPs walked out of Parliament before the vote took place.

Qaouk also said that Hezbollah had successfully brought down the five-year international conspiracy that was aimed at targeting the “reputation, position and role” of the resistance, and he accused Hariri and the March 14 coalition of conspiring with international forces against Hezbollah.

“We are today in a new stage able to save Lebanon from the sectarian project and the U.S.-Israeli conspiracy which comes at the expense of Lebanon's unity,” Qaouk said, adding that Hezbollah had been able to overcome the difficult phase of Hariri’s rule.

Qaouk also slammed the opposition for announcing that they would work to bring down Mikati’s Cabinet, saying: “The March 14 coalition do not hesitate to use any kind of weapon to bring down the government or receive foreign assistance and use sanctions against their government and state.”

On July 3, the March 14 coalition warned that it would work with the international and Arab community to bring down Mikati’s government. 

“The March 14 parties will launch an Arab and international political campaign to bring the republic out of the captivity of [Hezbollah’s] arms and call on Arab governments and the international community not to cooperate with this government if it fails to implement the requirements of Resolution 1757,” a statement released after the March 14 gathering at Le Bristol said. 

Resolution 1757 established the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which has recently issued arrest warrants against four Hezbollah members.

The STL has been one of the main dividing points between Lebanon’s main political factions, with the Hezbollah-led coalition describing it as corrupt and serving the interests of Israel and the U.S.