Driven by harsh criticism from various political groups of its unilateral move to open its so-called “support front” for Gaza in south Lebanon, Hezbollah decided to involve the “Resistance Brigades” that it formed in the July 2006 war, in the confrontations against Israel.
The aim is to give a multi-sectarian and comprehensive national cover for the “resistance” operations in the south, since the Brigades include Sunni, Christian, Druze, and Shiite members. In other words, it was Hezbollah’s response to the wave of accusations made by the opposition of monopolizing war decisions, aggravating Lebanon’s economic and political crises and obstructing the presidential elections by prioritizing the Iranian agenda, namely the war on Gaza.
The enrollment of the Resistance Brigades in the southern confrontations to support the war on Gaza gives the semblance of a Lebanese consensus on Lebanon’s involvement in the war through Hezbollah.
Lebanon incurred serious political and material losses as a result of Hezbollah’s unilateral actions, including the disruption of the presidential election, since the presence of a head of state would have curbed its acts.
Following Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah’s speech in which he reiterated military and political support for Gaza, opposition groups asked why didn’t he follow Syria’s and Iran’s suit by providing political support only, instead of a military one, knowing very well that Lebanon’s political, financial, and economic situation is in a state of deterioration and the state’s institutions are disintegrating. Was it not in Lebanon’s interest not to be involved in the Gaza war?
