( CNN ) -- The powerful leader of the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah weighed in on the conflict in Syria on Wednesday and defended the country 's embattled president . `` A majority of the Syrian people believe in the regime and support Bashar al-Assad , '' said Hassan Nasrallah , speaking on television in Lebanon . It was the first time Nasrallah has talked about the demonstrations inside Syria publicly . Hundreds of people have died after anti-government protests that began out in mid-March , and in recent weeks , Syrians have fled to Lebanon to escape the clashes between protesters and security personnel . Nasrallah said that the ferment across the Middle East and Syria was a `` doorway for Israel and the United states '' to interfere in Middle Eastern affairs . `` The fall of the Syrian regime is in the interest of America and Israel , '' he said . As a resistance movement , he said , Hezbollah has the responsibility `` to be protective of the security , stability and peace of Syria 's regime , people and army . '' But at the same time , he asked his fellow Lebanese not to interfere in Syrian affairs . Hezbollah , which is backed by Syria and Iran , is anti-United States and anti-Israel , and the United States has classified the movement as a terrorist organization . Hezbollah is suspected of many attacks over the years , and it fought a war with Israel five years ago . It is a political movement in Lebanon and has a presence in the country 's parliament and government . CNN 's Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report .
Hassan Nasrallah speaks on TV about the Syrian demonstrations . He says most Syrians support Bashar al-Assad and believe in his regime . Iran and Syria have supported Hezbollah .