By Dailytab24.
What Happened
Since Hamas invaded Israel and has been on the receiving end of Israel’s anger and determination to clear the Gaza Strip of terrorists, the sister terrorist organisation on the other side of the bother is pushing to implode the peace of Lebanon.
The fragile peace that returned to Lebanon years ago seems to be drifting away with each dawn.
Words in the direction of implosion are the order of the day, but recently, those words are gradually becoming action.
Lebanon’s peace is hanging in a balance, courtesy of Hezbollah’s extremism and terrorist activities.
Effect
People are already beginning to exit the country, with war rhetoric becoming stronger every day.
There is fear that the peace of Lebanon could implode at the shortest notice or even without a notice, and many people don’t want to be caught in the crossfire, so they are leaving the country.
The exodus is seen as taking proactive action because those caught in the crossfire might find it hard to leave the country.
Some have chosen to stay behind for reasons best known to them, especially those that have religious and cultural attachment with the country, while those that need peace—who don’t want to experience war—are leaving.
They say that leaving the country would be giving Israel a bragging right or imply the actions of Israel are effective. They also say they prefer to die in their land than to run away from their land.
Hezbollah Influence
The leadership of Lebanon has a fair diplomatic relationship with Israel, but due to the activities of Hezbollah, a terrorist organisation that has significant influence in the politics and military leadership of the country, the country faces a threat they cannot stop.
Hezbollah technically controls Lebanon and has succeeded in ensuring that the government remains handicapped.
A day after Hamas invaded Israel, Hezbollah decided to join the fight against Israel.
The Lebanon-based terrorist organisation planned to strategically aid Hamas and divide Israel’s attention to derail Jerusalem’s execution of the war goals it set out in the Gaza Strip. The plan has not effectively affected Israel, with Hamas terrorists on the verge of elimination. It’s a double blow for the Lebanon bases terror group; its actions have caused the deaths of its members and bombardment of southern Lebanon.
The terror group did not succeed in stopping Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip but attracted Israel to southern Lebanon. Its campaign can be considered a failure because instead of aiding Hamas, it attracted even a cost upon itself while Hamas remain helpless.
Hezbollah cannot withdraw from the skirmishes in the northern border of Israel because it would be a shame and colossal failure.
The Hand of Iran
Iran is responsible for the terrorist organisation’s existence, as much as it is responsible for other terrorist organisations in the region. Iran considers itself a legitimate state but uses terrorist organisations it finances to carry out illegal activities in the Middle East and the entire world.
The Lebanon-based group has often claimed independence from Iran, but Iran itself has confessed maintaining strategic communication and relationships with the terrorist organisation it calls resistance.
Red Lines
Hezbollah has crossed all the red lines Israel set for it, but due to international pressure, Israel has not been able to ignite a full military campaign against the Lebanon-based terror group.
When the terrorist organisation bombed children on a football pitch in Sham, it was believed Israel would declare a full military manoeuvre, but Jerusalem withheld the declaration and decided to continue with limited strikes in southern Lebanon.
After Israel targeted and killed the chief of army staff of Hezbollah, who is also the second in command, the terror group launched hundreds of rockets and suicide drones that targeted northern Israel. It further launched another significant barrage, which it said was in retaliation for the murder of its second in command. Israel preemptively struck the group to limit its retaliation and also stopped what could have started a major war.
Change of Approach
But recently, Israel declared that it will no longer wait for diplomatic moves to address the issue with Hezbollah. The US and other allies of Israel had insisted that diplomatic means be used to address the problem with Hezbollah, and for more than one year now, Israel gave its allies the benefit to solve the problem, but it appears diplomacy has failed to stop Hezbollah.
Israel has issued several statements that they can no longer wait for a diplomatic solution, which means a military option is on the cards and imminent. Southern Lebanon has already been deserted due to Israeli bombardment, but should a major military operation be declared against Hezbollah, entire Lebanon could be deserted.
Israel evacuated thousands of northern residents of its country to avoid casualties and has lately included the return of the evacuated citizens as a war goal, which underscores a shift from initial policy in the north. To return evacuated northern citizens, Israel has to change the security situation in the north, which would warrant full military operation against Hezbollah.
Conclusion
The peace in Lebanon is fragile, and that fragile peace is about to drift away due to the continued cross-border skirmishes ignited by Hezbollah. Israel has indicated a change of policy and voted for one, but has not effectively begun implementation.
If Hezbollah fails to end its cross-border skirmishes and return to the status quo, Lebanon will experience what the Gaza Strip is experiencing.
Nobody wants to see the experience, but Hezbollah’s foolhardy stance is making the experience inevitable. Hamas once said Israel cannot do anything, and Hezbollah might be saying the same thing.
