Arguments
portraying Hezbollah as a friend of Lebanon
Resistance role:
Hezbollah emerged in the 1980s as a resistance movement
against Israeli occupation, gaining legitimacy particularly after Israel’s
withdrawal in 2000 and the 2006 war.
Community services:
The organization provides health care, education, and
welfare services, particularly to underserved Shia populations, filling gaps
left by the Lebanese state.
Political representation:
Hezbollah holds seats in parliament and ministries, thereby
integrating a marginalized sectarian constituency into Lebanon’s political
process.
Arguments
portraying Hezbollah as a foe of Lebanon
Parallel authority:
Hezbollah maintains a powerful military structure
independent of the Lebanese Armed Forces, challenging state sovereignty.
External alignment:
Its close ties to Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps suggest that its priorities may extend beyond Lebanese national interests.
Regional involvement:
Hezbollah’s intervention in the Syrian conflict and
confrontations with Israel risk entangling Lebanon in regional wars.
Economic consequences:
Its designation as a terrorist organization by multiple
Western and Arab states contributes to sanctions and international isolation,
aggravating Lebanon’s economic crisis.
Hezbollah’s dual identity — as both a provider of security
and services, and as an armed actor operating outside state control — creates a
paradox.
For supporters, it is an indispensable defender of Lebanon.
For critics, it undermines national sovereignty and
stability.
The friend-or-foe debate remains contingent on whether one
prioritizes resistance against external threats or the consolidation of a
sovereign Lebanese state.
