Hezbollah Expands Influence As Lebanon Close To Collapse

Lebanon slides closer to complete collapse as Israel fears Hezbollah’s expansion of influence

Robert Inlakesh

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab has warned the international community that the country could collapse in days, as even Israel offers aid fearing the expansion of Lebanese Hezbollah’s power in the country. 

Without having a formal government, a 90% decrease in the value of the country’s currency and 55% of the population living in poverty, Lebanon is in a crisis like no other since the nation’s founding. And, as the country steers further into decline, so does the media coverage on Lebanon’s predicament and who is to blame.

Fears of a looming civil war have been constantly voiced from parties belonging to both of Lebanon’s major political blocs, the 14 March and 8 March alliances, pointing fingers as to who is really responsible for the economic mess. 

“Lebanon is a few days away from the social explosion. The Lebanese are facing this dark fate alone,” Diab said in a speech to diplomats in Beirut. He has been serving in a caretaker capacity since resigning in the wake of the catastrophic Beirut port explosion last August. Since then, fractious sectarian politicians have been unable to agree on a new government.

According to Reuters, Lebanese Hezbollah has been readying itself for the possible implosion of the Lebanese state, issuing ration cards and working on delivering goods such as food and fuel to its constituents and beyond. The ‘Al-Sajjad’ ration cards, according to an alleged Hezbollah source quoted by France 24, can be used at cooperatives set up consisting of “Syrian, Iraqi and Iranian products”. 

Hezbollah already operates multiple charities, a construction firm and pension system. There has been concern cited over the expansion of this support program by some analysts, and at the group’s ability to operate a “parallel economy”. The idea of local groups and militias providing for the Lebanese people dates back to the era of the 1975-1990 civil war, where the state did not play a predominant role in providing for its populace. 

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