A portrait of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an area targeted by Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh on Sept. 26. (Credit: Illustrative photo by Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP)
Israel’s devastating strikes on Hezbollah have shaken the Lebanese political landscape. This party, long dominating internal politics with its powerful militia and serving as a conduit for Iranian influence, found itself ensnared by its strategy after a year of declared “support” for Hamas. The military engagement in the South dragged Lebanon into a spiral of violence, culminating in a reversal: the “support front” became the main front.As Gaza's military operations subsided, Lebanon became the primary target of Israeli military efforts. An unexpected shift for a player who thought they could maintain an 'agreed' balance of terror with their enemy, only to be overwhelmed when the latter suddenly decided to break the rules of the game.The “confrontation parameters” established between Hezbollah and Israel — limiting the conflict zone,...
Israel’s devastating strikes on Hezbollah have shaken the Lebanese political landscape. This party, long dominating internal politics with its powerful militia and serving as a conduit for Iranian influence, found itself ensnared by its strategy after a year of declared “support” for Hamas. The military engagement in the South dragged Lebanon into a spiral of violence, culminating in a reversal: the “support front” became the main front.As Gaza's military operations subsided, Lebanon became the primary target of Israeli military efforts. An unexpected shift for a player who thought they could maintain an 'agreed' balance of terror with their enemy, only to be overwhelmed when the latter suddenly decided to break the rules of the game.The “confrontation parameters” established between Hezbollah and Israel — limiting the...