BEIRUT: Sheikh Nabik Qaouk, deputy head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, said the March 14 coalition cannot be trusted with stewardship of Lebanon, accusing the alliance of involving the country in the Syrian crisis via its “partnership” with the rebels.

“March 14 cannot be trusted with the country because it could not care less about liberating Shebaa Farms, Kfarshouba Hills and the remaining part of Ghajar, [nor does it care about] any Israeli violation of Lebanon's sovereignty,” Qaouk said in a ceremony in Burj Qalawey in south Lebanon.

Qaouk also reiterated his party’s accusation that its rivals had made Lebanon complicit in the 17-month-old crisis in Syria.

“They changed their slogan from ‘Lebanon first’ to ‘Free Syrian Army first’ after partnering with [the Free Syrian Army] in a military, security, political and financial agreement, and dragged Lebanon into the flames of Syrian crisis.” 

He added that Hezbollah has warned on several occasions against "dragging Lebanon into the flames" of the Syrian crisis but claimed that the March 14 party was implementing a "U.S.-regional" decision.

March 14 figures have repeatedly fended off similar allegations, saying that they support the Syrian uprising against President Bashar Assad but have not provided material or financial support to the rebels.