Israel's military pressure could help Hezbollah regain influence

Israel says it wants to dismantle Hezbollah, but are the Israelis really weakening the organization or strengthening it politically? While Israel is saying that it will take more Lebanese land, Hezbollah is positioning itself as the provider and the protector of the people of South Lebanon. So the question is, even if militarily they are weakening Hezbollah, are they really strengthening it politically? Take a look. Israel wants to dismantle Hezbollah's power in Lebanon, but Israel might just be strengthening its biggest opponent in Lebanon. The more Israel tightens its grips on southern Lebanon, the harder it becomes for the Lebanese government to reassert its authority. And the biggest beneficiary of that vacuum could be Hezbollah itself. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to expand Israel's security zone deeper into Lebanon if Hezbollah joins any Iranian attack on Israel. He has warned of further territorial gains around the Nabatieh and Litani River areas along with mass evacuations and strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut. But such threats raise questions about Israel's commitment to a diplomatic settlement. Washington has warned that a permanent Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon would contradict the commitments made under the ceasefire arrangement. And while the military standoff continues, Lebanon's civilian crisis is deepening. But the Iranian regime must be dismantled. That is the primary objective. I have discussed this with President Donald Trump on several occasions, including the day before yesterday. As long as this regime survives, even if battered, bruised and beaten, its fanatical nature will drive it to attempt once again what it tried a year ago, developing nuclear bombs and rebuilding the Axis. Therefore, the only way to prevent this is to topple the regime, a move that will simultaneously lead to the elimination of Hezbollah. homes have been destroyed communities remain displaced and the government in Beirut is struggling to finance reconstruction with damage estimated at more than 12 billion dollars the resources available to rebuild fall far short of what is needed Israel's continued military presence demolitions and restrictions on reconstruction are further complicating the government's efforts to restore normalcy in the south and this is where Hezbollah sees an opportunity Hezbollah is seeking to rebuild its image by offering financial compensation displaced families whose homes have been destroyed with reported Iranian funding supporting these efforts Hezbollah is attempting to position itself as a provider of relief at a time when the Lebanese state is struggling to deliver Lebanon's army meanwhile needs more funding equipment and personnel to expand its capabilities and help the state assert control over territory where Hezbollah has long held sway. But disarming Hezbollah is not just a military challenge. It is also about who provides security, who rebuilds homes and who looks after the people. And here lies the paradox in Israel's approach. Israel wants to replace Hezbollah's armed influence with the authority of the Lebanese state. But if the government cannot reach affected communities or provide relief, Hezbollah could fill that void and rebuild its support base. Israel may be expanding its security footprint, but it risks leaving the civilian space for Hezbollah and Iran to regain influence.