Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator
On Friday, Hezbollah fired a heavy barrage of missiles at an Israeli military base in the Upper Galilee region near the southern Lebanese border, causing fire and destroying some of it.
The northern Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Abirim was also hit by the Lebanese resistance group, which said the attack was in response to the Israeli attacks on civilians in southern Lebanon’s towns of Safad al-Batikh, Majdal Salam, and Shaqra.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported that two shells fired by the Israeli occupation army fell near a police station at the Marj Junction in the town of Hula, southern Lebanon.
The Israeli occupation forces began a war on Gaza which has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians since October 2023. Hezbollah, and other resistance groups have responded to the onslaught in solidarity and support of the Palestinian people who have been denied all human rights and live under a brutal Israeli military occupation.
In an effort to understand the situation, Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Lebanese journalist Ibrahim Darwish.
1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): The whole world is focused on a possible new Israeli war on Lebanon. In your opinion, what are the factors that would prevent this war?
Ibrahim Darwish (ID): If the Israeli occupation had the necessary tools, and the ability to change the situation in the north, it could have destroyed Lebanon, and occupy it from the south to the north. However, the reality in Lebanon has changed considerably, with the accumulation of resistance capabilities, expertise and capabilities, through continuous operations on its positions in southern Lebanon, leading to liberation in 2000, to exposing the weakness of its army and tanks, and the destruction of its machinery in July 2006, with the very persistence of Hezbollah in the southern front.
The residents and landowners in the south of Lebanon, who support the resistance movement Hezbollah, are standing in the face of Israeli aggression, which prevents the Israelis from crimes and massacres of Lebanese people farther north, who may not support Hezbollah.
The south of Lebanon, and its’ people, are in effect protecting the Lebanese areas such as Beirut, Jbeil, and Tripoli.
On October 8, the second day of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, Hezbollah prevented the Israeli occupation from crossing the ‘red-lines’ on the battlefield, despite the Israeli occupation targeting Lebanese civilians, and their properties in the south.
Hezbollah determined the times of attack and calm, while the Israeli army had the disadvantage of a loss of tanks and ammunitions, as they admitted, due to the Israeli war on Gaza and the attacks on Lebanon.
All that is stated above is a threat and message to the Israelis from Mr. Nasrallah, concerning the abilities and readiness of the resistance in targeting new settlements if Israel continues attacking innocent civilians of the south of Lebanon.
2. SS: The Lebanese army has been kept weak by the US. In your point of view, can the Lebanese army play a role in a possible war?
ID: The ideology of the Lebanese army is firm, and the Lebanese are firm in their hostility to the Israeli occupation, as the sole enemy of Lebanon.
Always, the blood of the army, the blood of the resistance has been united in the defense of Lebanon.
This is reinforced by the clause of the Defense ministerial statement, which affirms “the right of Lebanon and its people and its army and the resistance to free and defend their territory.”
3. SS: Lebanon has been without a president for over two years. In your opinion, do you see any international movement on this issue?
ID: On the subject of the presidency of the Republic, it is clear that the Lebanese domestic issue has been placed on ice, while awaiting changes in the region, which is undergoing major transformations. It is entering into a larger cycle of transformation at the global level, even though the long-term results have not yet been made clear.
Unfortunately, the problem is not only linked to choosing a President of the Republic, but also to the stability of the country.
There are foreign plans which are trying to prevent the orderly functioning of the institutions in Lebanon. But, we must recognize that the Lebanese political system has long-standing problems and imbalances.
There is a great need to amend some laws, and to separate the judicial system from political life, and to rely on the rule of law in the management of the country.
There is a need to hold to account the corrupt, and to close the door in the face of those seeking to sabotage the country.
4. SS: The US envoy Amos Hochstein was sent to Lebanon in an effort to decrease tension between Israel and Hezbollah. In your view, did he make any progress?
ID: Since the beginning of this conflict, the role of Hochstein has not been to ease the tension. Since the beginning, he has tried to try to intimidate and force Lebanon to follow American orders.
What is needed today is clear in terms of stopping the inhumane aggression against the Gaza Strip. Today, the oppressed people of Palestine are trying to lift a decades-old injustice and resistance, based on their history, morality and humanity.
The Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah, from the standpoint of national security, rushed to the support of the Israel war on Gaza, beginning on October 8. The Al-Aqsa Flood operation of October 7 was a result of a heinous blockade, starvation, oppression and slow killing, which is being committed against an entire people, under the banner of the support of the international community.
5. SS: Lebanon has been going through a massive financial crisis. The IMF presented a recovery proposal. In your opinion, has any progress been made?
ID: The World Bank has never been a life-saver of people. The only way any country can save its financial system, is for national unity among the people, and to reject the handing over of national decisions to foreign entities.
Lebanon cannot be isolated and separated from its region, national unity and allies.
If this financial crisis were to strike another country, it would not be able to continue.
Today, it is part of a destructive project that is trying to destroy Lebanon at a time when it can chart the course of this conflict.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist
