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Israel's Offensive Against Hizbullah Is Working, and the West Should Back It Fully

(The Hill) Dan Perry - The world needs to be reminded of a fundamental truth: Hizbullah is the enemy of Lebanon. Its defeat would be a huge favor to the Lebanese, and to a functioning world order. Israel is completely in the right in its campaign against Hizbullah, which imposed its will on Lebanon and served as a proxy for Iranian interests in the region, most notably by launching attacks against Israel. Hizbullah became the world's strongest non-state army, overshadowing the Lebanese military through steady funding, weapons supply and training by Iran. Hizbullah claims to be a "resistance movement" but there is nothing to resist. Israel has no claims on Lebanon beyond protecting itself. Hizbullah's real purpose is to provide Iran with a foothold on Israel's northern border, ensuring that any Israeli action against Iran, such as a preemptive strike on its nuclear facilities, can be met with retaliation, whatever the cost to Lebanon. There is no reasonable way to explain the lack of sympathy for Israel's plight. Hizbullah has been attacking Israel with rocketing, shelling and drone attacks since Oct. 8, 2023, forcing 60,000 Israelis from their homes. The calls for Israel to essentially accept the situation represent a double-standard. No other country would accept such a situation, including the U.S. In recent weeks, Israel reached its limit. A robust military response featured targeting key members of Hizbullah's leadership including long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, targeting its missile stockpiles and military infrastructure, and a ground operation against Hizbullah in south Lebanon. For the first time in years, Hizbullah is on its back foot. If Israel is allowed to weaken Hizbullah enough, a new Lebanon, free of its malign influence, could reclaim its place as a relatively peaceful and economically prosperous country. A crucial element will be shifting Shiite political representation from Hizbullah to Amal, a more moderate Shiite political group with no dependence on Iran. The writer was chief editor of the Associated Press in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
2024-10-18 00:00:00
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