Lebanon at the Brink: The Growing Internal Feud Over Hezbollah’s Arsenal
Internal divisions in Lebanon are reaching a breaking point as the government attempts to distance itself from Iran and engage in direct negotiations with Israel, sparking fears of a new civil war.
Lebanon is currently facing its deepest internal crisis in decades, as the divide between the central government and the Hezbollah terrorist organization threatens to tear the country apart. The tension has escalated following the government’s attempt to expel the Iranian ambassador and its decision to enter direct negotiations with Israel, moves that Hezbollah has branded as a "national sin." As the 51st anniversary of the start of the 1975 civil war passes, many Lebanese citizens fear that history may be repeating itself. The central conflict remains a battle for sovereignty: whether Lebanon will function as a unified state with a single national army or remain under the shadow of a heavily armed Iranian proxy.
A Nation Divided
The fractures in the Lebanese state became undeniable in late March when the Foreign Ministry declared the Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shibani, a persona non grata. While the government demanded his departure, the move was blocked by Hezbollah and the Amal movement, with the ambassador remaining in Beirut as a symbol of Iranian influence. This was followed by a massive wave of Israeli strikes on April 8, which Hezbollah blamed on the government’s "weakness." In contrast, many Lebanese journalists and citizens have publicly accused Hezbollah of "adventurism," arguing that the organization’s insistence on maintaining an illegal arsenal is what continues to invite devastating attacks on the civilian population.
The rhetoric has only grown more aggressive in recent days. Prime Minister Najib Mikati and President Joseph Aoun have called for the full implementation of the Taif Agreement, which mandates that the state hold a monopoly on all weapons. In response, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivered a defiant speech, asserting that the organization would "remain on the battlefield until the last breath" and would never discuss surrendering its arms. This defiant stance, coupled with the government’s push for a diplomatic settlement, has created a volatile atmosphere where the threat of internal combat is openly discussed. As the government urges citizens to avoid the "intimidation" of a new civil war, the streets of Beirut remain on edge, caught between the demands of the state and the defiance of the resistance.