While this is no different from the usual US interference where they have no right to interfere, I want to add that hezballah is viewed by many Lebanese people as part and parcel of the corrupt confessional oligarchy that has plagued internal Lebanese politics for many decades culminating in the 2019 financial crash from which Lebanon has yet to recover with no plan in sight. Hezballah played a vital role in suppressing protests by force and political influence while other parties like the right wing Christian group they mention in the article tried to co-op the grassroots protest against the confessional parties for their own political gain while being one of those same parties.

In context of Israel committing genocide in Gaza and war crimes and devastating destruction in Lebanon, it’s difficult not to cheer for anyone who takes a stand against such injustice, but, internally, the country is extremely polarized with rifts between status quo and anti-status quo supporters as well as along religious lines of Shia/Shiite, Sunni and Christian (which are also geographic). Hezballah’s internal role includes blocking any meaningful inquiries into the port explosion, ostensibly committing many political assassinations including the ex-PM as the article mentions, journalists and military personnel (in collaboration with the Syrian regime) which are often preceded by accusations of being foreign agents, promoting a culture of fear of speaking out against the status quo and generally being a right wing party socially.

The country is still fairly entrenched in civil war era sectarianism which in addition to the geographic divide has created almost 2 separate countries: the south which always bears the brunt of Israeli aggression and has historically been disenfranchised for different reasons and the rest of the country where until recently life was continuing as if nothing was happening while the south was being bombed heavily. This has led to a clear segmentation in society since hezb has become a more dominant force politically in recent years where they run their own social institutions in Shia areas in an almost federalist manner (some other factions see this and call for outright federalism or seperatism). This has been seen as a redistribution of influence and resources (whether undue or not) along secterian lines which further fuels tensions

Ideally, there needs to be a Lebanese-led solution along with the establishment of a Palestinian state that would incorporate hezballah militants into the Lebanese army similar to how armed groups dissipated after the end of the civil war and dissolves the confession system of allocating governmental power. Lebanon has existed in a very fragile state of political and social cohesion almost since its inception as a state and is currently in a very bad place after a decade of hosting Syrian refugees who are estimated to be around 2 million in a country with 6 million citizens (in addition to several hundred thousand Palestinian refugees who have been here for decades) and the current death and destruction imposed by Israel. Returning to status quo would be the final nail in the coffin in my opinion; A change in power dynamic is needed even if it happens to align with US interests as long as it provides a meaningful path forward that doesn’t involve being a permanently failed state (and does not harm the self-determination of Palestinians). It may be wishful thinking on my end but I do believe Lebanon can move past the need for hezballah on its own without a second civil war if the international community can put an end to Israeli expansionism and aggression.