BIEIRUT - A new Lebanese Shiite group that hopes to vie for the leadership of the resistance declared the launch of the Arab Islamic resistance and said thousands of fighters and volunteers are expected to join, according to an interview with the founder.

In the statement issued Wednesday, council founder Sayyed Mohamed Ali al-Husseini announced that the group aims to fight the enemies of Arabs and stressed the Arab identity of the group as opposed to Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

The anti-Hezbollah Islamic Arab Council is made up of more than 3,000 fighters and so far received requests by more than 1,500 volunteers seeking to join the group, particularly from the Gulf region.

" The new resistance group is now a military organization and has training camps in Lebanon and enough weapons to face any enemy "

Sayyed Mohamed Ali al-Husseini "The new resistance group is now a military organization and has training camps in Lebanon and enough weapons to face any enemy," Husseini told AlArabiya.net. "The training of the fighters was completed three months ago."

When asked about the source of funding, Husseini said it comes from individuals and not countries: "Launching an Islamic Arab resistance is a free resolution any Arab body can support it."

Husseini told AlArabiya.net that the group manufactured a rocket called Orouba—meaning Arabism—and that it will be very special.

Despite being a competitor of Hezbollah, especially in the coming parliamentary elections, Husseini said he doesn't mind that the two groups cooperate in case Israel, which he called "the first enemy of the Arab nation," attacks Lebanon.

Husseini said the new resistance group is open anyone to join, whether Sunni or Shiite.

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• Group's Political Project
• Lebanese Shi'ite Scholar Muhammad Ali Al-Husseini Slams Syria, Iran, Hizbullah
• Anti-Hezbollah Shiite station launches in Lebanon
• Al-Oroba TV
• Contact Information
• Ali al-Husseini's Profile (Arabic)