Hezbollah begins two-month celebration of 40th anniversary of party's founding

BEIRUT — Hezbollah began a two-month celebration on Friday to mark the 40th anniversary since the party was founded, the local party-affiliated television station al-Manar reported as the celebratory season kicked off with a press conference chaired by the party’s media relations specialist Mohamad Afifi.

Here’s what we know:

    • “Forty years after its inauguration, the resistance has become strong and capable,” Afif said, adding that the celebration intends to show “the Lebanese people that an entire generation has left the pleasures of life in the name of liberty, dignity and true sovereignty.”

    • Afif claimed that Hezbollah has the “largest group of alliances at the national level, inside and outside the Parliament.” However, the results of the May 15 parliamentary elections did not allow any political group to claim a parliamentary majority, while 13 opposition candidates associated with the Oct. 17, 2019 protest movement won seats in the legislature.

    • Al-Manar reported that celebrations will take place between June 20 and Aug. 20 in different regions of the country and will end with a festival during which the party’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah will give a speech.