How Israel Rebuilt Hezbollah’s Relevance in Lebanon

By Elijah J. Magnier –

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undoubtedly succeeded in dragging the United States, for the first time, directly into Israel’s war against Iran and its allies in the Middle East. Yet this achievement has turned into a curse and is no longer in his favour. US President Donald Trump entered the war, but he also imposed ceasefires on Netanyahu, against his will and contrary to his plans, first in Gaza and later in Iran and Lebanon. If these wars end through diplomatic negotiations, or even without a clear agreement on these fronts, the outcome will be disastrous for Netanyahu. Israel would have failed to impose on the Palestinian, Lebanese and Iranian consciousness the idea that no state or non-state actor can ever defeat Israel. Despite the massive destruction inflicted on Iran and its allies, Israel has failed to achieve a decisive victory on any front. Moreover, this failure gives the resistance a renewed raison d’être to continue operating against Israeli occupation forces, particularly Hezbollah. Military success is not enough. Without a smart political follow-up, battlefield wins can backfire.