Members of the Lebanese Jaafar clan in the village of Qasr, in the Baalbeck-Hermel region, on Feb. 13, 2025. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L’Orient-Le Jour)
Hezbollah could lose a key supporter. At a time when the group is weakened politically, militarily, and financially, Shiite families and clans in the Bekaa have already begun seeking alternatives, according to several local sources contacted by our newspaper. According to our information, some members of these clans are beginning to coordinate in order to "free themselves from the grip of Hezbollah," to use the words of one activist involved in the initiative.Organized around families, clans and tribes are important social actors in the Bekaa, particularly in the Baalbeck region. Among the largest tribes are the Zeaiter, Shammas, Jaafar, Hamade, Nassereddine, and Mokdad. The leaders of these families aligned themselves with Hezbollah when, at the height of its power, it offered them financial aid and services. But now, as the...
Hezbollah could lose a key supporter. At a time when the group is weakened politically, militarily, and financially, Shiite families and clans in the Bekaa have already begun seeking alternatives, according to several local sources contacted by our newspaper. According to our information, some members of these clans are beginning to coordinate in order to "free themselves from the grip of Hezbollah," to use the words of one activist involved in the initiative.Organized around families, clans and tribes are important social actors in the Bekaa, particularly in the Baalbeck region. Among the largest tribes are the Zeaiter, Shammas, Jaafar, Hamade, Nassereddine, and Mokdad. The leaders of these families aligned themselves with Hezbollah when, at the height of its power, it offered them financial aid and services. But now, as the...
