Israel at War with Hezbollah, Not Lebanon
- Asmar Tiba
- Mar 12
- 2 min read
Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon, Baalbek and Beirut's southern suburb are directed at Hezbollah, not at the Lebanese state or the Lebanese people. Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation that operates as an armed state actor. Israel is at war with Hezbollah and not Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s presence and military infrastructure in southern Lebanon also create a serious internal threat for Lebanon itself. The terrorist organisation effectively maintains a parallel military force that is stronger than the Lebanese army in certain areas. This has made it extremely difficult for the Lebanese state to enforce sovereignty over its own territory without risking the eruption of a civil war similar to the 1975–1990 Lebanese Civil War¹.
Because of this risk, the Lebanese state has largely avoided direct military confrontation with Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has repeatedly reported violations of the demilitarised zone established under United Nations Security Council after the 2006 Lebanon War.
However, UNIFIL’s mandate and operational limitations mean that its forces cannot actively dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. In practice, peacekeepers often limit themselves to monitoring and reporting violations, sometimes documenting them and sharing information with the United Nations and partner governments. In many cases, peacekeepers have also faced intimidation or restrictions when attempting to access certain areas.
At the international level, many governments, including the European Union and countries such as the United States, classify Hezbollah, as a terrorist organisation. Despite this recognition, there has been limited direct international enforcement against Hezbollah’s military presence in Lebanon.
Hezbollah also plays a significant role outside Lebanon. During the Syrian Civil War, the group deployed thousands of fighters to support the government of Bashar al-Assad and killed over a hundred thousand civilians in Homs, Syria.
In addition to its military activities, Hezbollah has been widely accused by governments and investigators of financing its operations through international criminal networks, including drug trafficking. The group has also been linked to political violence and assassinations in Lebanon, including the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005².
Because Hezbollah maintains a large armed force, operates beyond the authority of the Lebanese state, and is involved in regional conflicts, it is viewed by many countries as both a threat to Lebanese sovereignty and a security threat to Israel.
Israel is at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon. To Israel, Hezbollah must not only be weakened to rubbles, but also eliminated, this is also what the Lebanese people want and what the international community agrees on.
In conclusion, I urge the free nations of the world to extend their gratitude and support to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and the United States for their joint efforts in dismantling terror networks and Iranian-backed proxies, which are a constant threat to both regional and global stability. Democracy thrives on respectful discourse and informed debate, grounded in verified, trustworthy sources. However, biased statements against those who confront terrorism do not advance meaningful dialogue, nor do they protect the communities who have suffered firsthand from jihadist violence. Image credits:Eyal Margolin
