This is my most recent video voiceover for South Front, which provides some of the best reporting available on events in West Asia. I do this work as a volunteer because I believe in their integrity – and their value in these difficult times.
Written by Julian Macfarlane, Tokyo based investigative journalist, writer, author, geopolitical and military analyst
Hezbollah Weakened?
This particular report reflects a consensus that Hezbollah has been drastically weakened by a number of factors.
- the assassinations of many of its leaders – such as Nasrallah.
- Israeli bombing of its sites.
- the demise of the Assad regime in Syria and the apparent loss of of supply lines for Iranian weapons.
- Israeli and American pressure on Lebanon and the Lebanese government, along with widespread bombing by Israel of the Lebanese civilian population.
Hezbollah agreed to the American sponsored cease-fire before the fall of the Assad regime —and is still adhering to it– despite the fact that Israel is continues to attack, as the video clearly indicates.
That agreement puts the onus on Lebanon and the Lebanese government to defend southern Lebanon, from which Israel had agreed to withdraw but has not – continuing its attacks on the civilian population – not only in southern Lebanon but elsewhere.
Hezbollah still maintains forces in the South but they do not engage with the Israelis unless attacked.
As you can see from this video, Israeli policy is to try to escalate in Lebanon while Hezbollah adheres to the cease-fire agreement. It is clearly trying to provoke a response from Hezbollah which would stress the group’s relationship with the Lebanese government.
One should be wary of accepting media reports that appear to simplify this complex situation.
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Despite what the Western media are now saying, it is clear Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon failed —which is why they wanted the ceasefire.
Simply put—Israel lost and Hezbollah won.
And now, while supplies of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah have slowed, they have not disappeared – Hezbollah is still receiving military aid from Iran – just as the Houthis are.
How do we know that weapons are still arriving? Because Hezbollah has had to deny using the Port of Beirut to bring in Iranian weapons and supplies! That is likely true— but it indicates that weapons and supplies are continuing to arrive—just somewhere else.
It still has a substantial stock of lethal weaponry that it can launch that Israel would anytime. In fact, its stockpile will have increased! Hezbollah has not been weakened since the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, reports to the contrary. Most of its facilities are to the north, well-hidden and deep underground.
The failure of the Lebanese government to protect Lebanese civilians from brutal Israeli attacks increases support among the Lebanese public for Hezbollah. It is Hezbollah—not the famously corrupt Lebanese government that helps the public recover from these attacks.
Of course, Western and Zionist propaganda is pervasive– but when your home is destroyed by Israeli bombs during what was supposed to be a cease-fire – and the Lebanese government was supposed to protect you — who do you blame?
The Lebanese need only to look to Syria and the chaos there to see what trust in a weak government and in Israeli and American goodwill results in.
As it stands, Hezbollah is still the main provider of social services in Lebanon – not the government. It is they who provide for the people – who are of course now their main supporters. Unlike the Lebanese government, Hezbollah has a proven record of altruism and sacrifice – and keeps its word. They cannot be bought. Since the disastrous Lebanese Civil war 35 years ago, Hezbollah has proven its worth.
Right now, however, the “narrative” is that Hezbollah is on its way out, weakened and demoralized. It would almost seem that the group wants the West and the IDF to underestimate it.
Reuters, citing an unnamed “senior Hezbollah official”, claimed that Hezbollah is willing to discuss its arms on the condition that Israel halts its aggression and withdraws from the remaining occupied areas in southern. Press TV
Ihab Hamadeh, a Hezbollah lawmaker in an interview to Al Arabiya, however, insisted that Hezbollah does not have “sources” and communicates only on an official basis. which means that Reuter’s report could NOT come from any senior Hezbollah official.
Hamadeh said:
The issue of weapons is an internal matter, and we are prepared to discuss the issue as part of a defensive strategy to ensure Lebanon’s security. It is a Lebanese issue and does not relate to any external factor
In other words, “discussing” the withdrawal of Hezbollah weapons from Southern Lebanon reflects power-sharing and agreements in Lebanon; Hezbollah is not responding to American or Israeli pressure but seeking to accommodate the Lebanese government and military, which is responsible for overseeing the ceasefire in the south.
This arrangement naturally has the advantage of giving fewer excuses for Israeli attacks.
From a propaganda point of view, Hezbollah is following the agreement—the Good Guy. But Israel is not – it is the aggressor—the Bad Guy. .
However, at some point, the gloves will come off. I
Israel – as usual – keeps on escalating, clearly looking for territorial gains in Lebanon as it has achieved in Syria as a result of Syrian disunity. “Greater Israel” naturally includes Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s priority must be to maintain unity in Lebanon, working with the government and not against it— but at the same time definitely not for it— since it is both incompetent and corrupt — while the Israelis demonstrate their malevolence.
If Israel does not comply and the state does not take the necessary steps, we will have no choice but to resort to other options. If we reach a point where the Israeli actions are nothing but killing, destruction, and occupation, we cannot remain spectators,.Sheikh Naim Qassem, Secretary-General, Hezbollah.
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Israel continues to escalate against Hezbollah in Lebanon, making a mockery of the ceasefire brokered by the United States last November. Lebanese people have only to look at Syria to see what the future will bring if Hezbollah cannot defend them. Their government is not going to do that.
Although the Axis of Resistance has also been quiet recently, and there is talk of it disbanding, word is it has been receiving upgraded Iranian drones and missiles in anticipation of Round Two. One can expect that Hezbollah is also taking time now to reorganize and re-equip and re-train, while allowing the Lebanese government to prove how incapable it is.
If war comes, Hezbollah will likely be equipped with much more effective weaponry.
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In the meantime, the ZioNazis continue to wage war against just about everyone.
And the Houthis demonstrate that resistance is not futile.
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hezbollah can receive reinforcement from iran and irak via turkey, in fact iranian planes are flying to beirut. in case of war turkey will allow the supplies from iran because turks wnat to expel israel from syria.
with your ass
clever idiot steps up on the stage!
your ass would be more appropriate
you might say that there is a competition between turkey and the jews about syria. turkey for the rebuilding of the osman empire the brits so crudely put an end to and the jews for the greater israel wet dream! for a long time peace turkey is the better choice since the jews are unable to be part of a peaceful mankind!
the zionazis are figuratively in a leaky boat. many ordinary americans do not have the will or the tax money to indefinitely enforce this bloodthirsty zionazism on islam. in view of their current behavior it is only a matter of time until the zionazis are exterminated anyway.
yes, hezbollah is dead, just as nasrallah is dead. but with this action, israel has himself hung two stones around its neck: one is named jolani and the other sultan erdogan. both of them are used to waiting and waiting and finally will waiting for the best opportunity to attack. when israel is at its weakest, they will strike together with hamas and they will make no mistakes. therefore, the destruction of israel will occur when the israelis least expect it.
julani is a zionist agent what planet are you on? and erdogan is trash who betrayed syria and helped those zionist gangsters take over large areas of syria wtf did you think would happen?
the imbecile is just trolling. it was as clear as it gets first time when russia agreed to that with turkey, and this turkey isn’t old and good one, but zio liking erdogan bad one. they couldn’t even scratch syria without him and coup when they instaled him in power in ankara.
videos were shown on the youtube hindustan times channel that seem to show israeli tanks blown up and soldiers being ambushed.
i’ve seen nothing of it mentioned on south front though. south front said no real resistance from hamas yet. idk what’s up with that.
i doubt they are finished but if they ever were god help the people of lebanon and the wider region.
well, no, the zionists have won, by outmanoeuvring their opponents. zionist victory arose largely from half-heartedness of both nasrallah’s et al and iran’s leaders. hezbollah did a lot of damage to the zionist entity, and could have done much more but for it and iran’s failures of strategy. due also to the lack of any clear strategic aim of the axis of resistance. recall too hezbollah’s obvious failure to protect lebanon’s civilians.
real victory will not be declared for another 100 years
why didnt all 30k hamas fighters storm out the outbreak and not only some 2k?
so they could have destroyed all idf military bases around gaza.and cause heavy losses to idf.
also hezbollah could have put all rafineries, oil and chem depots into a sea of flames in telaviv an haifa easily.
also to destroy and damage the main ports and airfields.
why all of this didnt happen?
now they pay for this mistakes badly.
giving chance to nato is dangerous and it is what putin does and were skews out of snake island and set backs in crimea.usa is having drills in alaska.putin stop barking and start acting or russia is gone.
unfortunately for hezbollah the very governments they live under have sold them out for greater israel .
stupid question – of course not. no way the jews will defeat hezbollah or hamas despite the 48billion $$ anually from the white house c*nts!
what about this restrain? maybe the hezbollah just can’t hurt israel.
5 million greedy murderous jews against say 170 million indigenous people who wish for no more than the eviction of all jews from palestine! the jews wet dream of conquering the entire middle east is nothing but a pipe dream since the jews will face an impossible situation – how to keep 170 million enemies docile. not possible!
and by the way, the jews are more hitleristic than even hitler thought possible to be. and those hitler copy-cats are supported by the americ*nts!
the whole of lebanon belongs to israel because moses had a crap there 5,000 years ago (or something) (allegedly.)
hezbollah proved very naive and unprofessional, it should have unleashed hell on the zionist entity in the opening phases of zionist genocide of gaza. nasrallah did not take enough safety precautions and vet the zionist and cia spies in its ranks. iranian cowardice is not hitting back also played a role in zionist arrogance. the zionists killed iranian generals regularly. bombed embassy in damascus and killed dozens of iranian scientists and engineers and no response