Lebanese hostage says to Nasrallah, 'war is against Shia not Hezbollah'

One of the nine Lebanese hostages held in Syria by rebels said in Press conference that the War is against shia, nothing else.

Following their arrival in Lebanon, the freed hostages were brought to their homes in Dahiyeh, in Beirut's southern suburbs, where they were received by large crowds and celebratory gunfire.

Abbas Shoaib, one of the freed hostages, told local press: "I was accused of being part of the Resistance Brigades, and I was accused of being a Hezbollah commander. I am not, but now I consider myself to be a soldier of Hassan Nasrallah."

Shoaib has addressed Hezbollah leader during his speech saying the war is against Shia, no matter of you are a fighter in Hezbollah or not, they want-means rebels- to slaughter us all, and to take our women as concubines and slaves.

In the last 48 hours nine Lebanese pilgrims held hostage in Syria for 17 months arrived in Beirut after being freed in exchange for two Turkish Airlines pilots seized in Lebanon in August.

The Shia pilgrims were greeted by cabinet ministers and other senior officials from across the political spectrum in Lebanon on Saturday night, as relatives broke out into tears and cries of joy on their return.

The agreement also called for the release of 200 Syrians jailed by President Bashar al-Assad's regime, according to sources close to the Turkish and Qatari mediation teams which led to the deal.

The Shia pilgrims were snatched in northern Syria by rebel group the Northern Storm brigade, as they headed home overland in May 2012 after visiting holy sites in Iran.

Lebanon's feuding political factions have been further split by the Syrian war, with Hezbollah and its allies backing Assad and their opponents supporting the Sunni-led rebellion against his family's 40-year rule.