Lebanon today stands on the edge of another devastating national collapse. Years of political paralysis, economic breakdown, and social fragmentation have already pushed the country to the brink. Now, the latest military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to destroy what little stability remains. Entire communities are fleeing their homes, the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day, and the country risks being dragged into a broader regional war it can ill afford. At the heart of this crisis lies a difficult but unavoidable question: how much responsibility does Hezbollah bear for the catastrophe unfolding inside Lebanon?

The scale of displacement alone tells a grim story. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians have been forced to abandon their homes as Israeli strikes intensify across the south and other vulnerable areas. Families who had already endured years of economic hardship now face yet another trauma – the loss of shelter, security, and livelihood. In a single day this week, more than 100,000 people reportedly fled their homes, pushing the total number of displaced close to 700,000. Schools, hospitals, and basic infrastructure are under immense pressure, while humanitarian organizations struggle to respond to the rapidly expanding crisis.

There is no question that the human suffering unfolding across Lebanon deserves global attention and compassion. Civilians caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts should never pay the price for political or military calculations beyond their control. Yet acknowledging the humanitarian disaster should not mean ignoring the political and strategic decisions that helped create it. Compassion and accountability are not mutually exclusive. In fact, genuine solidarity with the Lebanese people requires confronting the forces that continue to expose them to danger.

In this case, Hezbollah’s decision to escalate hostilities with Israel following Iran’s regional confrontation has placed Lebanon directly in the line of fire. By aligning itself with Tehran’s strategic agenda, Hezbollah has once again transformed Lebanon into a battlefield for broader geopolitical struggles. This pattern is not new. For decades, the organization has maintained a powerful military structure independent of the Lebanese state, conducting operations and making strategic decisions that carry enormous consequences for the country as a whole.

The latest escalation illustrates the dangers of this arrangement. Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict has triggered predictable Israeli retaliation, turning Lebanese towns and villages into targets. While Israel bears responsibility for the scale and intensity of its military response, the reality remains that Hezbollah’s actions have contributed to creating the conditions for this devastating confrontation. When an armed group operating within a fragile state initiates hostilities with a regional military power, the consequences are rarely confined to the battlefield.

What makes the situation particularly troubling is the reluctance among some political commentators and intellectual circles to address Hezbollah’s role in the crisis. Many prefer to focus exclusively on the humanitarian catastrophe, arguing that assigning blame distracts from the urgent need to assist victims. While this perspective may be rooted in empathy, it also risks enabling the very dynamics that repeatedly plunge Lebanon into conflict.

By refusing to acknowledge the chain of decisions that led to this escalation, critics unintentionally grant Hezbollah a form of political immunity. The narrative becomes one of inevitable tragedy rather than preventable disaster. Yet the Lebanese people deserve a more honest conversation about why their country continues to suffer cycles of destruction. Ignoring the role of armed non-state actors in triggering military confrontations does not protect civilians – it simply ensures that similar crises will occur again.

The Lebanese government itself appears increasingly aware of this dilemma. For the first time in years, senior officials have publicly criticized Hezbollah’s actions and warned that the country cannot survive endless military adventures. President Joseph Aoun’s recent remarks accusing Hezbollah of pushing Lebanon toward state collapse represent a significant shift in tone. His call for negotiations with Israel and for international support to strengthen the Lebanese army reflects a growing recognition that the state must reclaim authority over national security decisions.

Aoun’s proposed four-point plan offers a potential pathway out of the crisis. The plan includes an immediate ceasefire with Israel, increased international assistance for the Lebanese armed forces, negotiations conducted under international supervision, and a long-term strategy to address Hezbollah’s military role. While each of these steps faces enormous political obstacles, the proposal at least acknowledges the structural problem at the heart of Lebanon’s instability: the existence of a powerful armed organization operating beyond state control.

Disarming Hezbollah, however, remains the most contentious element of any proposed solution. The group has built deep political and social roots within Lebanon’s Shiite community, presenting itself as both a resistance movement and a protector against external threats. Any attempt to dismantle its military structure without addressing the fears and grievances of that community risks further destabilizing the country. A durable solution therefore requires more than military pressure – it demands a broader national dialogue about sovereignty, security, and citizenship.

Such a dialogue must also confront the regional dimensions of the conflict. Hezbollah’s relationship with Iran is central to its identity and strategic outlook. Tehran views the organization as a key component of its regional influence, while Hezbollah benefits from financial, military, and political support. This alliance complicates Lebanon’s efforts to maintain neutrality in regional disputes, repeatedly pulling the country into conflicts driven by external interests.

Breaking this cycle will not be easy. Lebanon’s political system remains deeply fragmented, and regional powers continue to compete for influence inside the country. Nevertheless, the current crisis may represent a turning point. The sheer scale of displacement and destruction has forced many Lebanese to reconsider the cost of allowing non-state actors to determine the country’s security policies.

For too long, Lebanon has lived with the paradox of a state that exists alongside a powerful armed movement capable of overriding its authority. This arrangement may have once been justified by historical circumstances, but today it threatens the survival of the nation itself. If Lebanon is to rebuild its economy, restore public trust, and reestablish its role in the region, it must find a way to place all military power under legitimate state control.

International actors also have a role to play in supporting this process. Humanitarian aid is essential for displaced civilians, but long-term stability requires diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing regional tensions and strengthening Lebanon’s institutions. External partners should encourage negotiations, support the Lebanese army, and help create conditions for a political settlement that preserves the country’s sovereignty.

Ultimately, the most important voices in this debate must be those of the Lebanese people themselves. They are the ones who bear the consequences of every escalation, every rocket launch, and every retaliatory strike. Their homes are destroyed, their families displaced, and their future placed at risk.

Lebanon has already endured more than its share of suffering over the past decades – civil war, economic collapse, political assassinations, and the devastating Beirut port explosion. The country cannot survive another prolonged cycle of conflict driven by forces beyond the control of its democratic institutions.

Ending the current escalation will require courage from Lebanon’s political leadership, restraint from regional powers, and honesty from those who shape public debate. Compassion for victims must go hand in hand with accountability for decisions that endanger them.

If Lebanon is to escape the spiral of destruction, the country must reclaim its sovereignty and ensure that no armed faction can drag the entire nation into war again. Only then can the Lebanese people begin the long and difficult process of rebuilding their state – and their future.

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