(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - The collapse of Assad's regime in Syria was celebrated with jubilation and huge mass demonstrations in Lebanon, especially in the Sunni-dominated areas such as Tripoli, Sidon, and parts of the capital Beirut. The Sunni community in Lebanon has awakened from its lethargy into a proactive movement encouraged by the takeover of Syria by the jihadi Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). They mean to reassert Sunni dominance over the weakened Shiite Hizbullah. The Lebanese Shiite community is trying to cope with the weakness of Hizbullah following its poor campaign against Israel. Heavily bruised by Israel and losing its popular support with the fall of Bashar Assad, Hizbullah is trying to survive as a military force and a central political player in Lebanon. The writer, a special analyst at the Jerusalem Center, was formerly Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.
2024-12-19 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive