Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf during a tour of the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Basta neighborhood in Beirut, on Oct. 12, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
There’s no longer any doubt that Lebanon has once again become an arena for the tug-of-war between Iran and the United States. This time, it’s as part of a relentless war aimed at changing political realities and the balance of power. The U.S.-Iran equation has been deeply established in Lebanon for several years, hampering political milestones when the two sides were in conflict, and facilitating them when they converge. Before the outbreak of the violent Israel-Hezbollah war some three weeks ago, there was hope for a substantial agreement to reach a settlement in Lebanon, but the conflict changed the situation. Israel tipped the fragile balance, rekindling the rivalry between Washington and Teheran, and prompting the latter to seek to reaffirm its presence and maintain its influence, following setbacks inflicted on Hezbollah. Read...
There’s no longer any doubt that Lebanon has once again become an arena for the tug-of-war between Iran and the United States. This time, it’s as part of a relentless war aimed at changing political realities and the balance of power. The U.S.-Iran equation has been deeply established in Lebanon for several years, hampering political milestones when the two sides were in conflict, and facilitating them when they converge. Before the outbreak of the violent Israel-Hezbollah war some three weeks ago, there was hope for a substantial agreement to reach a settlement in Lebanon, but the conflict changed the situation. Israel tipped the fragile balance, rekindling the rivalry between Washington and Teheran, and prompting the latter to seek to reaffirm its presence and maintain its influence, following setbacks inflicted on Hezbollah. ...