Lebanon, in Thrall to Iran's Proxy Hezbollah

"[An impartial judiciary is the guarantor of all rights]. The Lebanese people deserve no less, and the victims and the families of those lost in the port blast deserve no less."

"Today’s unacceptable violence makes clear what the stakes are."

Victoria Nuland, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs 

 

"There were protests and then suddenly gunfire began ... Shooting, RPGs, everything."

"Isn’t this a shame? They brought us back to the days of the war."

Michel Younan, resident, Ain el-Remeneh neighborhood, Beirut

 

"[Lebanon’s leaders are steering the country into civil war, it’s] the last card they have to use."

"They have [driven] us into bankruptcy, devastation and now they are scaring us with the specter of civil war."

Haneen Chemaly, Beirut resident

 

"The secretary-general reiterates the need for an impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the explosion at the port of Beirut that took place last year."

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric 

Lebanese army special forces soldiers protect teachers as they flee their school after deadly clashes erupted along a former 1975-90 civil war front-line between Muslim Shiite and Christian areas, at Ain el-Remaneh neighborhood, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

The Shi'ite terrorist group founded, trained and supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran's IRGC as its proxy militia has managed to transform Lebanon into a ruin of a nation. Where there were always  tensions between Lebanese Christians and Muslim Shi'ites and Sunnis, and Druze factions and the presence of Palestinians complicated historical animosities between the sects, tribal and clan affiliations, the Lebanese compromised, alternating their governments representing each group to maintain a balanced moderation of interests.

Since the creation of the "Party of God" -- Hezbollah -- Lebanon's fortunes took a different trajectory as the terrorist group exacted greater influence under the direction of Iran, maintaining its own militia, refusing to incorporate it into the greater Lebanese military, becoming an alternate government, as it were, to the elected one. It now holds several seats in the Lebanese parliament which doesn't really reflect the power and influence it has attained, manipulating Lebanon into vulnerable positioning with its neighbour Syria and posing an inflammatory threat to Israel.

Like all terrorist groups, Hezbollah is supplied by a benefactor nation with military-grade weaponry; in this instance, Iran. Stockpiling flammable chemicals in warehouses in crowded living areas of the city. Last year such a warehoused stockpile of material (tons of ammonium nitrate) exploded in the Port of Beirut killing hundreds of people, wounding many more and the finger of responsibility turned toward Hezbollah, even as it denied any responsibility in the conflagration and slaughter.

 

Supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal groups chant slogans against Judge Tarek Bitar, who is investigating last year's deadly seaport blast, during a protest in front of the Justice Palace, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

An ongoing internal investigation into the cause and origins of the explosion that levelled a good part of the port area and afflicted a wide swath of the population in family grief, has drawn Hezbollah's ire because the judge heading the enquiry will not be intimidated and is determined to find the source and to announce his findings that the families of the dead and the injured have been waiting for. The conclusion is rather foregone; Hezbollah's role in endangering the city and its residents through its casual disregard for their safety, is well enough known.

 

On Thursday a violent reaction took place to a protest against the enquiry's main figure of authority, Judge Tarek Bitar, lead investigator into the port blast where 200 people were killed and thousands more wounded. Hezbollah had warned repeatedly, along with its allies, that the country would be split with the verdict of the Bitar probe. Hoping that in the interests of maintaining a low profile to violence, the investigation would be shut down or shelved.

Lebanon is in a delicate position economically. Its finances have failed, its struggle with COVID is ongoing, it cannot provide reliable energy to its population, food and basic commodity prices have soared and poverty is endemic. All the while Hezbollah engages in provocative activities to push neighbouring Israel into high alert in response to threats and rocket attacks. Another war with Israel, defending itself from Hezbollah's violent strikes would be even more devastating for Lebanon than the last one.

The Beirut government efforts to maintain a level of control over its history-breaking economic crisis while trying to control the pandemic and reassure its citizens that there will be an end to the unendurable conditions they are living in is fraught with the potential for Hezbollah to continue escalating hostilities both within the country and outside it. 

 

Iran's proxies, Hezbollah and he Shi'ite Amal Movement have both accused the Christian Lebanese Forces of responsibility for the sniper fire that took place, aiming directly for the heads of Hezbollah-linked protesters. Of the six people who were killed outright at the outbreak of gun violence, two were members of Hezbollah. Just as Hezbollah denies involvement in the Beirut port blast, the LF denies involvement in this latest shooting it blames on Hezbollah 'incitement' against Judge Bitar.

 

President Michel Aoun warned those responsible for the gunfire that took place Thursday would be identified and held accountable, that it was "unacceptable that weapons are once more the means of communication among Lebanese rivals".  The violence reminded Ex-prime minister Saad al-Harri of the civil war and was "unacceptable on all levels"; a situation that would be greatly relieved if the Lebanese took any and all steps possible to defang Hezbollah, disband and disarm it; invite it to relocate to Iran before it's too late to save the country.

 

A Lebanese mother with her children hide behind a car from sniper fire outside a school, in the Christian neighborhood of Ain el-Remaneh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. Armed clashes broke out in Beirut Thursday during the protest against the lead judge investigating last year's massive blast in the city's port, as tensions over the domestic probe boiled over. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)