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Source: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/dont-help-iran-prop-up-hezbollah-abe2760c
Don't Help Iran Prop Up Hizbullah
(Wall Street Journal) Jonathan Schanzer and Ahmad Sharawi - When the Iranian regime demanded a Lebanon ceasefire clause in the memorandum of understanding with the U.S., the regime sought to protect Hizbullah, its most powerful terror proxy, from Israel's efforts to dismantle it. The clause placed Israel, which didn't have a hand in the negotiations, in a painful bind. Israelis are under daily assault by Hizbullah. If they don't respond, they lose momentum in their northern front, while dozens of soldiers fall on the battlefield. If they do respond, they risk losing the support of Washington. Hizbullah's decision to enter the war on March 2 has proved disastrous for the terror group. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, a former chairman of Israel's National Security Council, estimates Hizbullah has lost 75% of its prewar strength and firepower. The Iranian regime is now the backbone of Hizbullah's command structure. Iran has deployed 150 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers to Lebanon. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said this spring that the IRGC was commanding Hizbullah operations. If Washington wants to break Iran's grip on Lebanon, it has to help Beirut enforce its ban on IRGC activity and expel all Iranian personnel operating in Lebanon. Until Hizbullah's attacks cease and Iran is out of Lebanon, the U.S. should greenlight Israeli reprisals. Jonathan Schanzer is executive director and Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.