Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media platform: The Degel HaTorah party, which has four members in the Knesset, announces its withdrawal from Netanyahu's cabinet.
Local Syrian sources: The raids targeted the road between the village of Al-Mazra'a and the city of Sweida, where forces and factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense are advancing.
Local Syrian sources: New raids carried out by Israeli warplanes targeted vehicles and gatherings of military factions affiliated with the new Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Local Syrian sources: Israeli raids target, for the third time, gatherings of Syrian Defense Forces military factions in the southern countryside of Sweida.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza Strip hospitals received 120 martyrs and 557 wounded in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis

Debunking the US–'Israel' fantasy for Lebanon: The Intercept

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Intercept
  • 22 Oct 2024 14:22
5 Min Read

US-Israeli rumors of Hezbollah's downfall are overstated, and Israeli discussions of a post-Hezbollah Lebanon remain speculative.

Listen
  • x
  • A screengrab of a video showing fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon readying for confrontations in a short clip released October 14, 2024 (Hezbollah Military Media)
    A screengrab of a video showing fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon readying for confrontations in a short clip released October 14, 2024 (Hezbollah Military Media)

In an opinion piece for The Intercept, Beirut-based journalist Séamus Malekafzali shed light on the complexities of the ongoing Israeli invasion of Lebanon. While Israeli media portrays their military operations as a resounding success, with high-profile PR efforts showcasing captured territory and alleged Hezbollah deserters, the situation on the ground tells a different story.

Malekafzali noted that Israeli advances have rarely extended beyond border towns, and Hezbollah fighters remain active in the region, continuing to inflict casualties on Israeli forces.

He highlighted a recent drone strike by Hezbollah deep into Israeli territory, which killed soldiers at a military base near Haifa, along with missile strikes reaching Tel Aviv. Despite the assassination of key Hezbollah leaders, rumors of the group's downfall have been greatly exaggerated, according to Malekafzali.

Moreover, while "Israel" and the US are already discussing a post-Hezbollah Lebanon, a claimed popular uprising against the organization remains largely speculative. Malekafzali critiqued this vision, noting that Israeli leaders have kept the details intentionally vague, leaving their hopes for a civilian revolt against Hezbollah more as a rhetorical goal than a tangible plan.

Lapid’s vision overlooks Hezbollah’s stronghold and support base

Malekafzali appraised the proposal by Yair Lapid, former Israeli Prime Minister and current opposition leader, to reshape Lebanon in the wake of the Israeli invasion. Despite Lapid’s political differences with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his plan for Lebanon closely mirrors Netanyahu’s, including a controversial call to reestablish the South Lebanon Army—a proxy force that "Israel" supported until 2000. Lapid suggested recruiting Lebanese soldiers with higher salaries, trained by French, Emirati, and American officers, rather than Israelis.

More strikingly, Lapid advocated for dissolving the Lebanese government and placing the country under an international mandate, after which new elections would be held to form a government that excludes Hezbollah.

Related News

Bolton dismisses Trump’s Nobel hopes over Ukraine policy shift

US pressure on Lebanon grows over Resistance disarmament plan

Malekafzali highlighted the inherent absurdity and orientalism of this idea, noting that Hezbollah is not just a powerful military entity but also a political force with significant popular support, particularly in southern Beirut and parts of southern Lebanon. The movement, while not holding the majority in Lebanon’s parliament, garnered the most votes of any single party in the last election and is viewed by many Lebanese as a key defender against Israeli aggression, credited with helping expel Israeli forces in 2000 and rebuilding areas devastated during the 2006 war.

According to Malekafzali, while opposition to Hezbollah exists within Lebanon, the movement remained an integral part of Lebanese society, and any attempt to remove it entirely misunderstands its deep-rooted significance.

US seizes opportunity amid Lebanon war to push for new leadership

Malekafzali highlighted how the United States appears unbothered by "Israel’s" overtly aggressive plans in Lebanon. The US has refrained from advocating for a ceasefire, viewing the ongoing war as an opportunity to weaken Hezbollah’s influence.

As part of this strategy, Washington is reportedly pushing for the election of a new Lebanese president while assuming that Hezbollah’s focus is diverted. US envoy Amos Hochstein inadvertently hinted at this agenda during an interview with LBC, stating, “Until we select — once Lebanon selects a president.” In response to concerns raised by Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker about the safety of Hezbollah MPs, given "Israel’s" assassination strikes against Hezbollah leaders in Beirut, a U.N. coordinator admitted, “No one can guarantee that this will not happen.”

In Malekafzali's view, the United States is crafting an idealized vision of Lebanon, simultaneously engaging with Lebanese leaders and conducting diplomacy while promoting the notion of a future Lebanon where its people "can choose their own representatives."

This rhetoric, as per the author, mirrors George W. Bush's statements about Iraq under Saddam Hussein. However, despite this talk of democratic choice, there is little evidence that the majority of Lebanese citizens would elect representatives that align with US and Israeli approval.

As the US constructs this narrative, the Israeli military actions reflect a belief that Lebanon cannot be entrusted with "true democracy", prompting the expulsion of Lebanese residents from the south, the author wrote.

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari recently claimed that every house in a southern Lebanese village was part of Hezbollah’s infrastructure. Footage has surfaced showing Israeli troops demolishing entire villages with planted explosives.

The piece concluded by suggesting that the US and "Israel" may ultimately back a vision of Lebanon similar to what former Israeli Security Minister Moshe Dayan once envisioned, "One where the south is under Israeli control, and in the seat of power in Beirut, an installed leader who will want nothing more than to give Israel everything it wants."

  • United States
  • Israeli aggression on Lebanon
  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • Hezbollah
  • Israeli occupation
  • Lebanon

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned
Politics

Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Rutte, Trump
US & Canada

Trump threatens 100% secondary tariffs on Russia, sets deadline

Syrian government soldiers on a motorcycle pass by a burning tank on the outskirts of Sweida city, where clashes erupted between the Druze community and Bedouine clans, in southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli airstrikes target Syrian military factions near Sweida

Lebanon, US, disarmament
MENA

US pressure on Lebanon grows over Resistance disarmament plan

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS