The freed Lebanese prisoners of war Samir Kintar, Hussein Suleiman, Mohammad Srour, Maher Kourani and Khodor Zaidan visited on Thursday the tomb of Hizbullah military leader Imad Mughniyeh in Beirut's southern suburb on their second day of release, pledging to follow his footsteps.
The five, wearing military uniforms, were given a red carpet reception before entering Mughniyeh's tomb at Rawdat Shahedein cemetery. They placed wreaths and gave a military salute at the grave as people showered them with rice.
Kintar was released along with four Hizbullah fighters and bodies of some 200 Arab fighters as a result of a swap deal in exchange with two dead Israeli soldiers. Hizbullah dubbed the swap deal "Operation al-Redwan" in reference to Mughniyeh's nom de guerre, Hajj Redwan.
"We swear by God to continue the same way and not to retreat until we achieve the same stature that God bestowed on you," said Kintar, Lebanon's longest held detainee in Israel, as he left the graveyard. "We will never retreat until we die as martyrs," he added.
The freed detainees then separated everyone to his hometown. Hundreds of people in Aabey, Kintar's home town in Mount Lebanon, celebrated his return after 30 years in Israeli jails.
In the ceremony, several political figures delivered speeches greeting Kintar's release and calling for solidarity. MP Walid Jumblatt said that "there is no contradiction between good relations and mutual respect between Lebanon, Syria and the Resistance. There is no contradiction between the Resistance and the state after agreeing over a gradual defense strategy. I assert that the only weapon to protect an arsenal is national unity."
For his part, Labor Minister Mohammed Fneish addressed Jumblat saying: "We will stay loyal to those who were with us in the cause of Arabism. We will never forget our common struggle with you, Walid Jumblatt, and what we have done together. We are looking forward to build the future of this country together."
Kintar stressed that the liberation of Shebaa Farms will not end the struggle with Israel. "It is an illusion to think that the liberation of Shebaa brings an end to the Resistance’s role. This enemy will not leave us, and the Resistance will remain long after the liberation of Shebaa."
