On the streets of municipalities south Lebanon is overflowing with wreaths. Only the breeze of an endless summer trembles and hundreds of yellow banners brag with words. ‘God’s party’, green embroidered. Allah’s initial letter ‘a’ is extended towards the sky to draw a line. assault rifle framing a verse Koran. The faces of Iranian and Lebanese leaders accompany the portraits of the youth who were martyred in the conflict, as well as the pennants. Hezbollah celebrating Lebanese militias assemble 40 years It was established as the largest and most heavily armed militant group in the Middle East.
Be born 1982, and now the political party did not announce its establishment until three years after the founding document was published. Lebanon was in a stalemate. fierce civil war and the days of 1982 were the longest. The “Lebanese Islamic revolution” has come to change them. Hezbollah is fully established Height of Israeli occupation Like his allies in Iran, he never gave up on his second goal, although he lost one of his first goals of establishing an Islamic republic in Lebanon. Forty years later, Hezbollah militants are still resistance to Israel, the “Zionist enemy”.
In these 40 years, the Lebanese militia has ceased to be an unequal organization. Undeniable role in Lebanon and the region. Hezbollah not only dominates its own country’s politics, it is also tasked with spreading Hezbollah. Iranian influence throughout the Arab world. assuming you have some 100,000 warriors It is well-trained and has about 150,000 rockets and missiles targeting Israel. The Hebrew state sees it as its most serious immediate threat.
legitimacy doubtful
Also, in the last decade Hezbollah has intervened in the region. conflicts Syria Y Yemen. As a staunch ally of Iran, it has defended this role, giving military support to its partners, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the Houthi rebels. These raids earned him his title. terrorist organization By 26 countries, the European Union and most Arab League countries. In contrast, their participation in foreign civil conflicts is not related to the alleged resistance to Russia. Israel legitimizes its existenceaccording to their detractors.
Hezbollah’s intervention in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen earned Hezbollah recognition as a terrorist organization by 26 countries, the European Union and most Arab League countries.
Therefore, in addition to Lebanon’s economic collapse, many questioned the legitimacy of the militias. And proof of that loss of parliamentary majority In the last election last May. Many Lebanese Shiites no longer see the group as a resistance organization. fight against injustice, occupation and corruptionInstead, they see it as little more than a drug cartel focused on the mass production and trafficking of Captagon,” he says, “making most of its profits from its business.” Hanin GhaddarFrom the Washington Institute.
They also resent Hezbollah’s efforts to protect corrupt politicians. prevent legal action It’s about the 2020 Beirut port explosion that killed 215 people,” adds Ghaddar. Attack on Lebanese demonstrators They fueled the waning of support for the militia during the 2019 protests. A Zogby poll from last year, 52% of Lebanese They do not believe that Hezbollah supports the stability of the country, while the rest still believe it is.
Ghaddar, “although his ideas Resistance and hostility to Israel Hezbollah’s anger at the war and Hezbollah’s efforts to continue to militarize the Shiite community are even stronger.state within state“In Lebanon. de facto control of the south Bekaa Valley in the east of the country and the southern suburbs of Beirut. It was one of the few militias that did not disarm after the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990) and therefore its ranks are stronger than the battered Lebanese Army, especially in the midst of the economic crisis.
no war in sight
It has softened in recent years aggression of counter speech Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Gulf, where a significant portion of the Lebanese diaspora lives. Hassan Nasrallah He continues to lead the paramilitary forces after being appointed as its general secretary. 1992. This charismatic and fierce leader has rarely appeared in public since the 2006 war with Israel. Hiding for fear of being killed is considered t.global bug and subject to US sanctions. His physical absence does not prevent the militia from participating in any public action, with videos projected on giant screens.
Although established as the largest militia in the region, more and more insulation It surrounds Iran and its allies. Defeat in the Lebanese elections will not necessarily weaken its power in the local context, as it will always have threats of violence and strategies to “delay key processes”. blocking orders and creating gaps in institutions.” But Hezbollah has learned its lesson: there will be no war. threat from missiles and drones can accomplish more than weapons themselves,” concludes Ghaddar. The weak support of Lebanese society could not withstand another conflict.