BEIRUT (AFP) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used his influence with Hezbollah to prevent the Lebanese militant group from taking action during Israel's deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip, a French envoy said on Wednesday.
"President Assad told me he exerted his influence to ensure Hezbollah adopted a responsible attitude and showed restraint during the events in Gaza," President Nicolas Sarkozy's envoy Senator Philippe Marini told reporters in Beirut.
"Syria's role has been positive," Marini said after a visit to Damascus, noting that the Gaza conflict had not spread across the region.
Israel fought a brutal 34-day war with Hezbollah in the summer of 2006 and there were fears of renewed conflict triggered by Israel's deadly three-week offensive in Gaza that ended on January 18 with more than 1,300 Palestinians dead.
Damascus and its regional ally Tehran are the main backers of the Shiite Muslim fundamentalist Hezbollah or "Party of God" which continues to resist Israel.
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