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Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/18/iran-war-hezbollah-israel-lebanon/
Hizbullah's Attacks on Israel Have Sparked Anger among Its Base in Lebanon
(Washington Post) Suzan Haidamous - Shiite Muslims in Lebanon who form Hizbullah's base of political and popular support are increasingly furious with the militant group for dragging them into another war. Hizbullah's missile and drone attacks on Israel have drawn a fierce response, which in turn has forced more than 1 million people to flee - many displaced for the second time in less than two years. Hizbullah's leaders are at risk of losing political legitimacy within their base, as displaced residents fear that south Lebanon could suffer the same fate as Gaza and end up largely reduced to rubble. The Shiite community now faces a reckoning, said Filippo Dionigi, a professor of international relations at the University of Bristol and author of a book about Hizbullah. "They see Hizbullah as the organization that has represented their interests and their security. But they also are realizing that Hizbullah is leading them into conflicts that exact a very high cost on them." Several people expressed bewilderment at the decision by Hizbullah's leadership to attack Israel. "They didn't even think about Ramadan, that it was nighttime, and that it was in cold weather. They didn't think about the people," said Hadi Mourad, a Shiite doctor who opposes Hizbullah. Ghada, a Shiite woman who was still looking for a place to shelter in Beirut, said she always supported Hizbullah publicly. Now she questioned the point of trying to avenge the war against Iran, seeing no benefit for Tehran or the Lebanese people. "The price we paid was not enough? Displacement, destruction, and devastation."