The Lebanese State Is Done With Hezbollah. The talks between the neighboring countries are about defeating their mutual enemy.

Foreign Policy ^ | 23 April 2026 | Anchal Vohra

[BeauBo]

Since the start of Israel’s most recent war with Lebanon, the Lebanese state has blamed Hezbollah for plunging the country into war at Iran’s behest. It now seems inclined to pursue a definitive solution to the problem. In initiating direct talks with Israel, Lebanon is hoping not only to end conflict with Israel but also to eliminate the threat Hezbollah wields inside the country.

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Hamas; Hezbollah; Iran; Israel; Lebanon; News/Current Events; Syria; War on Terror; Yemen
KEYWORDS: hamas; hezbollah; iran; irgc; israel; lebanon; syria; waronterror; yemen

[BeauBo]

Without the Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah is cut off from its long standing supply route, safe haven and potential direct military support. Hezbollah's funding has suddenly collapsed (Iran provided about half directly, and some of their main domestic rackets have recently been bombed out of existence). After Hezbollah's historic loses in the Syrian Civil War, and more recent Israeli Operations, Hezbollah is more vulnerable than they have been in decades.

The Lebanese State, Christians, Sunnis, and indeed anyone who was not a direct beneficiary part of Hezbollah's operations; has decades of injustice to make up for.

This is the best chance for revenge, and plunder of Hezbollah's wealth and rackets, in those many decades.

Indeed, if other players in Lebanon sit out this chance, it is likely that other players will reap those gains in their stead.

Iranian and Syrian support is suddenly removed from Hezbollah; and France, Israel and the USA seem poised to provide major new support to a fundamental takedown of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Carpe Diem!

[Paladin2]

Are the Hezbos of local stock?

[Marko413]

Is this just a theory or is Lebanon leadership saying this? Would be quite a turn in the tide if middle eastern countries started rallying against Hezbollah.

[Ge0ffrey]

Trump has seen the big picture and seeks a permanent solution.

[BeauBo]

“Are the Hezbos of local stock?”

Yes. Shi’ite Islam has long been part of the sectarian mix in Lebanon, but they have always been a minority. The Iranian regime recruited from among them, and organized Hezbollah as their proxy force there, from the ground up. There are other Lebanese Shia groups, and even Militias, like the Amal Militia, but with extensive Iranian and Syrian support, Hezbollah cane to dominate all others.

Prominent Shi’ite clerical families have also had very long histories of maintaining personal followings of individuals from among the Shia communities across several countries. Prominent Shia clerical families in Lebanon include the al-Moussawi family (who lead Hezbollah), the al-Sadr family (of Moqtada Sadr in Iraq), and the al-Fadlallah family. Within Shia Islam, there is a distinct personal loyalty to a particular religious authority, that is characteristically handed down within families.

Those existing networks of allegiance were key in Iran gaining a native Lebanese following, by co-opting just a few religious leaders (most of whom are traditionally educated in Qom, Iran) - and pouring huge resources into the effort.

[BeauBo]

“Is this just a theory or is Lebanon leadership saying this?”

I certainly don’t think so. President Joseph Aoun, the former Chief of Staff of Lebanon’s Military campaigned on a Monopoly on the use of arms for the Government of Lebanon (disarming Militias - Hezbollah being by far the dominant one). He personally fought in earlier internecine wars within Lebanon, as part of one of the Christian Militias.

Hezbollah has run roughshod over the other sectarian communities in Lebanon - Christians, Sunnis, other Shia, Druze; for a long time. There are a lot of grudges that they would like to settle at Hezbollah’s expense, if they could.

Hezbollah’s dominance (as a front for Iran’s IRGC) has presided over a dramatic (World-class) collapse of the Lebanese economy. The Lebanese Pound is now about 90,000 to the dollar, down from a stable 70 to dollar when the Mullahs took over in Iran, before they exported their revolution into Lebanon. In addition to dramatic impoverishment, Hezbollah has brought repeated warfare and destruction into Lebanon, with their unending aggression against neighboring Israel, as well as other sectarian communities.

It is conventional wisdom in Lebanon that Hezbollah (Iran) is the main impediment to their peace and prosperity.

[BeauBo]

“Trump has seen the big picture and seeks a permanent solution.”

I expect that has been coordinated with Israel, and is part of the overarching war strategy and plan against the Iranian regime.

President Trump announced that the Government’s of Lebanon and Israel have extended their ceasefire another three weeks, while Prominent Hezbollah parliamentarian Ali Fayyad said today that their party “firmly rejects” the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.

There has been continued firing between Israel and Hezbollah, albeit at a significantly reduced rate, since the ceasefire was initially announced.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Lebanon is either allied with them or scared. It’s history as a Christian majority nation would suggest there’s no hope without returning to the past.

[BeauBo]

“Lebanon is either allied with them or scared.”

Scared. Hezbollah has a history of assassinating opposition political figures in Lebanon.

[pghbjugop]

Probably more complicated than this, but with Hezbollah defending Assad all those years and now with Assad gone, it seems like the new Syrian regime could get its revenge on Hezbo by serving as the boots on the ground by working with Israel and the US to be the final piece in the puzzle in taking Hezbollah down.