hezbollah

Sect over State: The Struggle for a Lebanese National Identity

“Shia, Shia, Shia,” the cri de guerre of Hezbollah’s partisans for mobilizing and rallying the Shia community in a country that is religiously, culturally, and politically diverse, is a blatant demonstration of communal allegiance over national belonging. Lebanon is one of the world’s most divided countries. Its diversity has complicated ...

Diplomacy, Political Brinkmanship and the Murderous Dystopias 

The peace plan submitted by President Trump is a major breakthrough after two years of open-ended cycles of violence in Gaza. Welcomed by Europeans, the Palestinian authority, Arab states, Russia, and China, it can definitely serve as a platform for a negotiated end of war. It could be a major diplomatic feat to end the unspeakable humanitarian ...

In the Face of State Sabotage, Firmness Is the Only Imperative

It relentlessly edges toward the peak of destructive behavior, pushing ever closer to its darkest extremes. Hezbollah’s leadership—loyal to directives from its Iranian patron—offers daily, tangible proof of the malicious strategy it pursues without any regard for law or principle in Lebanon: a strategy aimed at dismantling the state and ...

The Post-Hezbollah Era

While all eyes are fixed on Hezbollah – the force that has dismantled the state, battered the country and decimated its people – another tumor is advancing quietly but steadily. It watches for openings, for posts waiting to be filled, for the countless assets available for acquisition, and the institutions ready to be dominated. Nothing could ...

Naim Qassem Blasts Trump’s Plan and Criticizes the Lebanese Government

Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Naim Qassem, denounced Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, accusing it of being designed to whitewash Israel and serve its regional interests. In a televised speech on Saturday, marking the first anniversary of the assassination of two Hezbollah leaders, Souhail al-Hosseini and Nabil Kaouk, he also urged the Lebanese ...

An Arrest Warrant Issued for Al-Manar Reporter Ali Berro

The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Jamal Hajjar, has issued an arrest warrant for Al-Manar TV reporter Ali Berro, according to information relayed by several local media outlets. This warrant was issued after the journalist refused for the third time to appear before the competent judicial authority, as part of the ...

Washington Allocates $230 Million for Lebanese Army and ISF Ahead of Shutdown

Just hours before a government shutdown, the United States confirmed a new security aid package for Lebanon. The Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) will receive $230 million in funding, a strong political signal of support for state institutions. According to Reuters, the US administration approved the funding on September 30, ...

Lebanon under Scrutiny: Weapons and Army Moves!

Countries concerned with the Lebanese situation are awaiting the army’s first report, expected in the coming days, on the implementation of the plan to ensure weapons are exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese state. The focus is both on timing: whether the report will be released before the 5th of this month or be delayed; and on content, ...

New Israeli Strikes on Ali Taher Hills Target Hezbollah Site

Residents of southern Lebanon were shaken in the early hours of Friday by a series of Israeli airstrikes on the wooded hills of Ali Taher, near Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa. The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the attack and announced through its Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, that it had struck a Hezbollah site. In a statement ...

Raouche Case: One Person Held in Custody

The owner of the laser device used to project the portraits of the two Hezbollah leaders assassinated by Israel onto the Pigeon Rocks in Raouche was placed in custody on Thursday, following an order from Prosecutor General Jamal Hajjar. The investigation into the case is ongoing to determine responsibility for violating instructions issued by the ...

Disarmament Plan: Army Report Awaits Cabinet Review

According to reports by local channel MTV on Thursday, Lebanon’s government is expected to receive a detailed report from the army in the coming days on its activities south of the Litani. The document comes a month after the cabinet approved a military plan to secure the state’s exclusive control over weapons. It will be closely watched, ...

After Gaza, Eyes Turn to Hezbollah and Iran

Donald Trump has unveiled his peace plan for Gaza. The Israelis accepted it, and the international community applauded – sometimes hesitantly, but applauded nonetheless. The question now is Hamas. The group remains undecided. We are not immune to yet another historic misstep on their part – one more in a long series – that could prolong ...