Just over a week ago, Lebanese security forces intercepted a shipment containing an estimated half a tonne of TNT and C4 explosives in the Dahr al-Baydar area, bound for Beirut’s southern suburbs. Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah acknowledged that the explosives belonged to the Lebanese militant group and demanded that the Lebanese authorities return them.
It was quite the admission. Although explosives of the same kind were used in assassinations that scarred Lebanon in years past, including the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Hezbollah used to deny or be tight-lipped about them. Today it not only acknowledges them, but demands their return.
One possible explanation for this boldness is that the group still has sympathisers within the government, security services and other state institutions. Some believe Hezbollah's arms are crucial to protect Lebanon's Shiite community. This argument carries little weight and is just a pretext for the group to keep its arms.
Proxy, not party
Hezbollah has never recognised the government's authority. This is because it is not a Lebanese political party; it is an Iranian proxy. Its links to organised crime and smuggling networks have created a parallel economy and undermined the foundations of Lebanon’s state institutions. Furthermore, Hezbollah's domination has turned Lebanon into an arena for foreign interference and exploitation. This has created an environment where Lebanese citizens pay the price for futile wars that have brought them nothing but loss, destruction and isolation.
