War between Hezbollah and Israel deepens fractures in Lebanon

From Al Jazeera itself, so you wont outright dismiss it as an untrusted source [https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/3/17/the-us-israel-war-on-iran-is-shaped-by-religion-as-much-as-strategy](https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/3/17/the-us-israel-war-on-iran-is-shaped-by-religion-as-much-as-strategy) >Iran’s state ideology — Welayat al-Faqih, the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist — holds that in the absence of the Twelfth Imam (leader), who is in occultation (ghaybah, or in hiding), supreme authority must rest with a qualified Islamic jurist governing on his behalf. >Moreover, factions within Iran’s clerical and military establishment went further, **transforming the theological expectation of the Mahdi’s return into an operational political doctrine.** >The Iranian leadership has institutionalised the idea that unrelenting struggle against oppressive powers is a sacred obligation. Under this framework, strategic retreat or diplomatic **accommodation would be tantamount to prophetic betrayal.** >This theological framing later justified “forward defence“—a strategy of exporting the revolution to forge proxy networks throughout the region in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. Just because you dont speak any of the languages these people are saying this stuff in, and therefore dont see it on your TV, doesn't mean it doesnt exist.

Neither do plenty of Lebanese and Palestinian people. It is almost like the Levant and the Middle East has a diverse range of skin tones including plenty that are white. Tony Shalhoub is of Lebanese descent, but was able to easily pass as an Askhanazi Jew on Mrs. Maisel. Sacha Baron Cohen is an Ashkanazi Jew was able to pass as Syrian Jew and individual from Central Asia. Linda Sarsour is of Palestinian descent, but without knowing her background I bet many would think she was an European Muslim convert. Sofi Tsedaka is of Samaritian descent, so OG Levantite roots, yet by just looking at her I bet many would think she is Ashkanazi Jews. It is like the whole framing of the Israeli-Palestianian/Lebanese Conflict as one of white vs brown is stupid. Also just pointing out Ben-Gvir, one of the worst in Bibi's government, is of Kurdish Jewish descent meaning by the stupid definition of defining Middle Easterns as simply brown he is brownier than most of the Palestinian leadership.

That's my point .. .

Wasn’t the government supposed to disarm Hezbollah like 20 years ago with that 2006 UN resolution? I understand that a lot has happened in the interim, and it was probably highly unlikely the government could have actually done it. I just don’t think the government’s argument that they can’t do it because of the bombing really holds a lot of weight since it’s been 20 years since they agreed to disarm them. But I’m not Lebanese and haven’t really been following Lebanon’s internal politics that closely over the last 20 years. I might be missing something. Edited to add: I hope everything ends up being okay for you and your family and town. Best case scenario is there’s some definitive resolution that will allow Lebanon to focus on other things, rather than a never ending conflict with their neighbor. That’s no way for anyone to live.