Lebanon is at breaking point. For over a year, the country has experienced political and economic unrest, compounded by COVID-19 and a series of explosions. For Lebanon to become a secure and stable nation again, it needs change. But, if Hezbollah continues to wield political, social, and military power in the country, this will not be possible. Over time, Hezbollah, a proxy of the Iranian regime, has demonstrated that it is not capable of promoting stability in the country, and it is the primary obstacle to achieving democracy and security in Lebanon.
Hezbollah is a Shiite political party and military group that has been a key component of the Lebanese government since 1992. The group’s largest benefactor is Iran, and it operates as a proxy of the country, adopting similar policies such as opposition to Israel and other Western powers active in the Middle East. Since 2005, Hezbollah has held cabinet positions and its popularity has steadily increased.
But sentiments have changed in Lebanon, as anti-government protests have been on the rise. When such protests broke out in October 2019, it resulted in the capitulation of the government at the time, and the establishment of a new Hezbollah-backed government in January 2020. As nothing seemed to change, protests have continued across the country, because the new administration still primarily serves the interests of the country’s Iran-backed elites. Today, citizens continue to take to the streets to express their frustrations around the incompetent regime, rising debt and inflation, unyielding poverty, corruption, and management of the COVID-19 crisis.
Frustrations with the government, particularly Hezbollah, were further heightened by two explosions that rocked Beirut in the past few months. In early October, a diesel tank explosion shook Beirut’s Tariq al-Jadideh neighborhood. The blast resulted in the death of multiple individuals, as well as dozens of injuries. According to The Daily Star, an explosion took place in a local bakery. However, Russia’s RIA Novosti agency reported that the blast took place in a warehouse that had been storing generator fuel, based on reporting conducted by Lebanese channel Al-Jadid.
Lebanon also suffered another major explosion on August 4, when 2,700 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound commonly used for explosives, blew up. The ammonium nitrate had been seized by Hezbollah and had been stored in a warehouse at Beirut’s port for an extended period without adequate safeguards. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the epicenter of the Beirut Port blast was less than one mile away from a storage facility that the IDF believes is a Hezbollah missile stockpile. Both explosions caused significant damage to the city of Beirut and undermined the already weak morale in the country.
Citizens have responded to the events by criticizing the governments’ failure to introduce adequate safeguards when managing sensitive chemicals. But the events have also outlined Hezbollah’s concerning trend of hiding explosives in civilian locations, posing a severe threat to Lebanon and its people.
In addition, Hezbollah’s reign has come under threat as the group has faced accusations of deploying lethal force against anti-government protesters. According to reporting by Human Rights Watch, on August 8, security forces used excessive force, including firing live ammunition, metal pellets against primarily peaceful protesters as well as at health workers, resulting in several injuries. These events have undercut Hezbollah’s popularity in the country and have also demonstrated how Iran’s financial support of the group has fueled instability in the nation. According to 2019 State Department estimates, Iran provides Hezbollah with an extensive array of weaponry as well as over $700 million every year, empowering and encouraging the group to militarize and protect its interests at any cost.
Further, a group of doctors revealed that Lebanon’s Health Ministry had stated it would not pay the expenses of hospitals that were treating protesters injured at the August 8 protests. The Ministry later withdrew the statement, but it sparked severe criticism among citizens. Although protests continue, experts believe that Hezbollah will not succumb to calls for a new government, as this would weaken its power in the nation and would likely force the group to disarm. However, the longer the group attempts to maintain its stronghold in the country, the more Lebanon will continue to suffer.
Lebanon needs fundamental change to rebuild itself and achieve stability and security. Hezbollah’s expanding influence in the country has undermined such efforts, and the group has continuously demonstrated that it does not prioritize the needs of the nation or its citizens. If Hezbollah is in power and Iran has a firm grip on the country, Lebanon will not see democracy, and the already vulnerable country will continue down this path.
