Lebanese Forces

March 9, 2025 | David Daoud |

Lebanon’s new government, the absent “resistance” Clause, and Hezbollah’s fate

Lebanon officially has a new government. On January 13, 2025, Nawaf Salam was appointed prime minister-designate and tasked with cobbling together a cabinet. He accomplished this task by February...

December 7, 2024 | David Daoud |

Naim Qassem on Hezbollah’s post-ceasefire posture

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered two speeches—one on November 29 and another on December 5— after the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect on November 27. Most...

October 22, 2024 | David Daoud, Ahmad Sharawi

Israel Is Hurting Hezbollah. But It Can’t Rely on Lebanon to Finish the Job

The Iranian-backed group has deep popular roots, and its degradation or elimination will have to rest equally on military defeat coupled with political and social pressure

October 1, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Lebanon’s leadership vacuum threatens to prolong Israel-Hezbollah war

Hezbollah, although it only has a handful of seats in parliament, has deep control over Lebanon. Part of this is that they stockpiled so many weapons that it is stronger than the state of Lebanon.

June 6, 2024 | David Daoud, Ahmad Sharawi

For Israel and Hezbollah, Full-scale War Is Question of When, Not If

Well-intentioned diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and France to de-escalate the dangerous tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border can only ever have a temporary effect. With Israeli concessions incapable of satisfying Hezbollah's implacable hostility, any cease-fire will be unsustainable

May 15, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Hezbollah seeks to use Syrian refugees to create crisis with Europe

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said on May 13 that Lebanon should open its maritime borders so that Syrians who live in Lebanon can board boats heading to Europe.

May 2, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Lebanese political leader sounds the alarm on Hezbollah

Lebanon may be tired of the excesses of Hezbollah and how it is dragging the country into conflict.

May 1, 2024 | |

Hezbollah Targets Israeli Forces on Northern Border

The Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah carried out several attacks on northern Israel on April 30 and May 1. Hezbollah claimed it targeted an Israeli military barracks at Biranit,...

April 11, 2024 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Danger knocking on the door of Lebanon’s Christians once again

The Christians of Lebanon find themselves defenseless against the existential threat that is coming their way from Islamist Iran and its Hezbollah militia. This week, Pascal Sleiman, a father of three...

October 22, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Hezbollah’s threats to Israel harm Christian Lebanese villages

The Hezbollah attacks are a result of Iran’s desire to create a multi-front war in the Middle East.

May 31, 2022 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Lebanon Has an Opposition Movement Again

A new coalition could check—or even dislodge—Hezbollah and its iron grip.

May 25, 2022 | Tony Badran |

The Name of the Lebanese Play? The Aristocrats!

The country’s recent election was a masterpiece of counterfactual Kabuki theater—and there wasn’t a dry Western eye in the house

October 15, 2021 | Joe Truzman |

Three members of Hezbollah Killed in Beirut Clashes

Three members of Hezbollah were killed Thursday after heavy clashes in the Tayouneh neighborhood of Beirut. The violence was prompted by Hezbollah-led protests calling for the removal of Judge Tarek Bitar...

April 19, 2018 | Tony Badran

U.S. Personnel Embedded With Lebanese Forces, Raising Concern Of Hezbollah Penetration

A senior U.S. official disclosed this week that American personnel have been stationed in the Lebanese Armed Forces, or LAF, a contested fighting force that is closely aligned with the Iranian-ba...

November 14, 2016 | David Daoud |

Hezbollah Has Effectively Won the Lebanese Presidency

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to congratulate ...

May 15, 2012 | |

A Talk with Samir Geagea, Head of the Lebanese Forces

Maarab, Lebanon Samir Geagea is reluctant to speak much of the attem...

January 27, 2011 | NOW Lebanon |

Mikati’s Probationary Period

The reactions from Washington, Paris and Riyadh following Najib Mikati’s designation as prime minister suggest that we are now in a watchful, wait-and-see period. Everyone is keeping a clos...

January 13, 2011 | NOW Lebanon |

We Saw It Coming

The resignation of Hezbollah and its allies from the Lebanese government was, in many ways, foreseeable. Hezbollah and Prime Minister Saad Hariri's respective positions on the Special Tribun...

July 8, 2008 | Tony Badran The Middle East Review of International Affairs

Lebanon’s Militia Wars

Lebanon's civil war was a complex, multisided battle whose implications still shape the country's politics today. This article analyzes the forces involved domestically and the course o...

June 16, 2008 | Tony Badran Transatlantic Institute

TAI: Hezbollah’s Dangerous Gamble

 Introduction This past May saw Hezbollah's second coup attempt in as many years. The first was after the 2006 war, when Hezbollah took to the streets with the goal of bringing...