Lebanon remains an afterthought in international diplomacy as Israel intensifies its military offensive, despite a supposed ceasefire. The Guardian reports that Israeli strikes killed 31 people on Tuesday alone, and the military ordered the evacuation of the entire city of Tyre. Troops have pushed beyond the buffer zone in southern Lebanon, with far-right ministers calling for annexation.
The conflict has killed thousands, including civilians and medics, and destroyed essential infrastructure such as bridges and water facilities. An estimated 1.2 million people have been displaced. Bellingcat reported that at least 46 of 54 villages within the Israeli 'yellow line' have been demolished or heavily damaged, mirroring tactics used in Gaza.
Global attention has focused on Iran's war and the conflict in Gaza, leaving Lebanon's suffering largely unnoticed. Under US pressure, Lebanon is now in direct negotiations with Israel, but Hezbollah's role remains contentious. Many Lebanese blame Hezbollah for triggering the offensive, while others see it as a necessary deterrent against Israeli occupation.
Political rhetoric is sharpening, with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Hezbollah-aligned politicians playing to their bases. Divisions are growing, with people avoiding Shia communities seen as targets for Israeli strikes. In a country already scarred by war, economic crisis, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the risk of civil war looms.
Sami Halabi of the Alternative Policy Institute warns that Lebanon cannot be bombed into sovereignty. 'Washington says it wants a stronger Lebanese state and a weaker Hezbollah, but its actions suggest management of fracture under Israeli military primacy,' he wrote. A better Lebanon is possible, but not through this destruction.
