A Wrench in Hezbollah and Iran’s Plans

Stand for Israel | October 30, 2019

LEBANON-POLITICS-PROTEST — Lebanese soldiers arrive to open roads from after anti-government protesters structures outside the capital Beirut in Jal el-Dieb on October 30, 2019. - Lebanon's prime minister submitted his government's resignation yesterday, bowing to nearly two weeks of unprecedented nationwide protests against corruption and sectarianism. Saad Hariri's sombre televised address was met by cheers from crowds of protesters who have remained mobilised since October 17, crippling the country to press their demands. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Unrest in the Middle East is not uncommon, so as violence erupts in the Lebanese streets neighboring Israel, one might be tempted to pooh-pooh the protests. But while the unrest might not ultimately amount to much, writes JNS’ Eyal Zisser, it has at least alarmed and inconvenienced the Islamic Republic and its terrorist proxies:

It is interesting to note that the demonstrations in Lebanon and Iraq, beyond disquieting the corrupt politicians in both countries, have more importantly thrown Iran—and mainly Nasrallah—off balance, even to the point of alarm.
When Hezbollah was created, it labelled itself the “Organization of the Oppressed on Earth.” But the organization forgot a long time ago about the oppressed on whose behalf it purported to speak. Hezbollah has been part of the Lebanese government for more than 15 years already and thus cannot shirk its responsibility for the current crisis.
The organization controls a sprawling apparatus of companies and social institutions, which have become corrupt and contemptible. Moreover, Hezbollah needs Lebanon to be stable to continue suckling at its teat.
The protests in Lebanon and Iraq are inconvenient from Iran’s perspective. Supposedly, this is Tehran’s finest hour, its bold moves now having paid off. Its aggression in the Persian Gulf has been met with forgiveness and even attempts at appeasement. Washington is pulling its troops from Syria and abandoning the arena to Iran, and isn’t hiding its desire for dialogue with the Iranians.
The sense of victory in Tehran spurred Israel Defense Forces chief Aviv Kochavi to warn of a possible conflagration on Israel’s borders. No one wants all-out war, but, in the words of Kochavi, Israel and Iran are on a collision course and there is no one out there to deter or stop the Iranians.
The protests, then, are an uncomfortable wrench in Iran and Hezbollah’s plans…