Hezbollah is betting its future on Iran as Lebanon becomes a proxy battlefield
Last week, Hezbollah secretary general Naim Qassem issued a statement in which he said his group would not disarm while Israel pursued its occupation of Lebanon and its attacks. He also described the Lebanese-Israeli framework agreement of last June as “devoid of legitimacy”, adding that it was the memorandum of understanding agreed by the US and Iran, also signed in June, that represented a…
Hezbollah is placing its hopes on Iran as Lebanon transforms into a battleground for proxy conflicts. Hezbollah secretary general Naim Qassem recently stated his group would not disarm while Israel continues its occupation of Lebanon and attacks. Qassem described the Lebanese-Israeli framework agreement as "devoid of legitimacy" and emphasized Iran's priority of ending Israeli aggression in Lebanon.
This shift in allegiance from the Lebanese authorities underscores Hezbollah's strategic alignment with Iran. Since the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leadership appears to be directly influenced by Iranian members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Following their entry into the US-Israeli-Iranian war, Hezbollah has encountered significant setbacks, including Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and the razing of Shiite-majority villages.
This has led to growing discontent among the Shiite community. Despite this, Hezbollah's only option appears to be remaining closely connected to Iran, which has put pressure on the US in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is betting on several factors to rejuvenate Hezbollah's fortunes, such as the potential failure of the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement due to Lebanese inaction and Israeli intransigence.
Additionally, Iran hopes to revive the Lebanese resistance, which would provide them with a new leverage point against Israel. Another consideration is Iran's belief that regional powers, like Turkey and Saudi Arabia, aim to counterbalance Israeli dominance in the region. Furthermore, Iran hopes the Trump administration will be unable to succeed if the conflict with Iran escalates.
However, the feasibility of Hezbollah's revival is questionable, given the changing nature of war and Israel's advanced technological means.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
