Rania Abouzeid in The New Yorker: ‘The previous war had been initiated by Hezbollah in solidarity with the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. This time, many Lebanese were less willing to accept Hezbollah’s decision to engage Israel. And, this time, the Lebanese government openly turned on Hezbollah.’

And: ‘In Beirut, questions swirled: Could the state enforce a ban on Hezbollah’s armed wing without bloodshed? Had Hezbollah squandered the last of its political capital?’

Abouzeid adds: ‘Although many Iranian leaders have been killed, the regime remains intact, with no visible defections.’

According to an expert, Hezbollah had two options: fight back or face ‘slow annihilation.’

When there is nothing left to lose, the militia might want to fight to the death and drag the Lebanese population into the abyss.

But will Trump and his VP tolerate a long war of attrition? No.

And Gaza and Ukraine? Temporarily forgotten.

(a sf 2072)