Changes

Contrary to Hezbollah's image as an all-powerful organization in Lebanon, the Arab press exposes cracks in the oiled Shiite military machine operating in Lebanon for 40 years under Tehran's order: severe economic crisis, erosion after fighting in Syria, conflicts with other ethnic groups in Lebanon, blood feuds between Shiite and Shiite tribes and more.

Contrary to Hezbollah's image as an all-powerful organization in Lebanon, the Arab press exposes cracks in the oiled Shiite military machine operating in Lebanon for 40 years under Tehran's order: severe economic crisis, erosion after fighting in Syria, conflicts with other ethnic groups in Lebanon, blood feuds between Shiite and Shiite tribes and more.

... Financial crisis

... '''Financial crisis'''

Hezbollah's main financiers in Tehran have suffered severe sanctions in the United States in recent years, as well as an economic boycott of the Gulf and Saudi principalities.  Entire areas of Lebanon are out of military control. The poor Palestinian refugee camps in the south are dangerous crime scenes run by terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, where Hezbollah exploits the occasional rocket launch on Israel.  Palestinians absorbing the IDF response.

Hezbollah's main financiers in Tehran have suffered severe sanctions in the United States in recent years, as well as an economic boycott of the Gulf and Saudi principalities.  Entire areas of Lebanon are out of military control. The poor Palestinian refugee camps in the south are dangerous crime scenes run by terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, where Hezbollah exploits the occasional rocket launch on Israel.  Palestinians absorbing the IDF response.

New enemy: the Druze

'''New enemy: the Druze'''

A few days ago, Druze from the town of Shuya in the Hazbaya area of ​​southern Lebanon attacked Hezbollah rocket launchers that entered their village and confiscated the organization's launcher.  The message is that the Druze are not ready to participate in Hezbollah's game and be a human shield for the Shiite organization.  Hezbollah claimed that its squad had arrived in the village by mistake.  The intensity of the anger of the Druze in the village, who almost lynched one of the organization's activists, demonstrates how much Druze hatred of Hezbollah.  The Druze are angry about Hezbollah's attempt in recent years to recruit their brothers, the young Druze in southern Syria (Suida), to fight against Israel.  The Druze want to remain neutral in regional conflicts.  In response to the incident, Hezbollah operatives prevented Druze vegetable traders from selling their goods in Sidon and called them "unclean" and "collaborators with the Zionists."

A few days ago, Druze from the town of Shuya in the Hazbaya area of ​​southern Lebanon attacked Hezbollah rocket launchers that entered their village and confiscated the organization's launcher.  The message is that the Druze are not ready to participate in Hezbollah's game and be a human shield for the Shiite organization.  Hezbollah claimed that its squad had arrived in the village by mistake.  The intensity of the anger of the Druze in the village, who almost lynched one of the organization's activists, demonstrates how much Druze hatred of Hezbollah.  The Druze are angry about Hezbollah's attempt in recent years to recruit their brothers, the young Druze in southern Syria (Suida), to fight against Israel.  The Druze want to remain neutral in regional conflicts.  In response to the incident, Hezbollah operatives prevented Druze vegetable traders from selling their goods in Sidon and called them "unclean" and "collaborators with the Zionists."

Blood revenge

'''Blood revenge'''

A new problem Hezbollah faces is blood feuds between tribes and families in its areas of control.  This problem is exacerbated by two main reasons: the economic crisis and the lack of governance.  In the absence of a law enforcement system in Lebanon, families are taking the law into their own hands.  About a year ago, a vicious circle began that only widened between two Shiite families in the northern Lebanon Valley, Ja'far and Shemetz.  These families are fighting for control of the smuggling crossings between Lebanon and Syria, a source of income mainly from drugs.  Hezbollah is unable to contain the conflict, which is increasing the number of deaths each month.

A new problem Hezbollah faces is blood feuds between tribes and families in its areas of control.  This problem is exacerbated by two main reasons: the economic crisis and the lack of governance.  In the absence of a law enforcement system in Lebanon, families are taking the law into their own hands.  About a year ago, a vicious circle began that only widened between two Shiite families in the northern Lebanon Valley, Ja'far and Shemetz.  These families are fighting for control of the smuggling crossings between Lebanon and Syria, a source of income mainly from drugs.  Hezbollah is unable to contain the conflict, which is increasing the number of deaths each month.

  Hezbollah has also been embroiled in blood feuds between Shiites and Sunnis.  This week, members of the Sunni Rasan family avenged the murder of the boy Hassan Zaher (14), a member of their family who was murdered by a Hezbollah operative a year ago.  In August 2020, Hezbollah hung signs of Ashura (Shiite mourning day in memory of Hussein bin Ali, grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) in the Sunni town of Khaleda near Beirut, sparking local protests over the provocation.  Hezbollah operatives fired on protesters, killing the boy.  Hezbollah (which is known to be above the law) refused the family's demand to hold a trial for Ali without the boy's killer.  The boy's brother Hassan murdered Shevli this week during a wedding he attended.  During the funeral that was organized by Hezbollah, the convoy went through a provocative act in the town of Khaleda, apparently contrary to Hezbollah's instructions.  The townspeople stormed the convoy and eliminated three more activists from the organization.  It is now doubtful whether Hezbollah will succeed in preventing Shiite families from avenging the deaths of their sons and there is a danger that the cycle of blood feuds will only widen.

  Hezbollah has also been embroiled in blood feuds between Shiites and Sunnis.  This week, members of the Sunni Rasan family avenged the murder of the boy Hassan Zaher (14), a member of their family who was murdered by a Hezbollah operative a year ago.  In August 2020, Hezbollah hung signs of Ashura (Shiite mourning day in memory of Hussein bin Ali, grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) in the Sunni town of Khaleda near Beirut, sparking local protests over the provocation.  Hezbollah operatives fired on protesters, killing the boy.  Hezbollah (which is known to be above the law) refused the family's demand to hold a trial for Ali without the boy's killer.  The boy's brother Hassan murdered Shevli this week during a wedding he attended.  During the funeral that was organized by Hezbollah, the convoy went through a provocative act in the town of Khaleda, apparently contrary to Hezbollah's instructions.  The townspeople stormed the convoy and eliminated three more activists from the organization.  It is now doubtful whether Hezbollah will succeed in preventing Shiite families from avenging the deaths of their sons and there is a danger that the cycle of blood feuds will only widen.

Hatred for the Iranian occupation

'''Hatred for the Iranian occupation'''

Lebanon has not enjoyed real independence for many years.  It suffered from army invasions and civil wars.  It suffered from an Israeli occupation, a Syrian occupation and now an Iranian occupation.  Hezbollah is the most hated organization in Lebanon.  In the current economic crisis all the accusing fingers are pointed at it.  The organization is affected by all the disasters that have occurred in recent years in the country and led to the current crisis: Hariri's assassination, the entanglement in the war in Syria, the government's dysfunction, the economic boycott of Lebanon and lack of foreign aid, the Beirut port explosion, unnecessary wars against Israel.  If there were elements in the past who saw Hezbollah as a defender of Lebanon, today most Lebanese understand that the organization is in fact a tool for realizing Iranian goals at the expense of Lebanon's economy and security.

Lebanon has not enjoyed real independence for many years.  It suffered from army invasions and civil wars.  It suffered from an Israeli occupation, a Syrian occupation and now an Iranian occupation.  Hezbollah is the most hated organization in Lebanon.  In the current economic crisis all the accusing fingers are pointed at it.  The organization is affected by all the disasters that have occurred in recent years in the country and led to the current crisis: Hariri's assassination, the entanglement in the war in Syria, the government's dysfunction, the economic boycott of Lebanon and lack of foreign aid, the Beirut port explosion, unnecessary wars against Israel.  If there were elements in the past who saw Hezbollah as a defender of Lebanon, today most Lebanese understand that the organization is in fact a tool for realizing Iranian goals at the expense of Lebanon's economy and security.