Is Lebanon on the Verge of a Military Coup? | ALGEMEINER

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

This article was originally published in Algemeiner on July 22, 2021.

https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/07/22/is-lebanon-on-the-verge-of-a-military-coup/ 

This article is also audio enabled

Is Lebanon on the Verge of a Military Coup?

A combination of sectarian politics, ethnic divide, animosity, and corruption has brought Lebanon — the country once called the “Paris of the Middle East” — to the brink of destruction.

But there is another major reason for this: Iran has cynically, methodically, and strategically kidnapped Lebanon.

In the early 1980s, Iran created Hezbollah in Lebanon. Massively armed and financed by Iran, Hezbollah has gradually become the real power there. Hezbollah uses violence to impose its will upon Lebanon and the Lebanese. Hezbollah kills political opponents — including former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. With an $800,000,000 annual budget they get from Iran, plus the money they earn from drugs and smuggling, Hezbollah has created a parallel economy and has armed its forces with a missile capacity that only a handful of countries possess. It also runs a health and social service network.

Hezbollah has created a state within a state, using Lebanon as a façade.

Lebanon’s president since 2016 is Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian. His party, the National Patriotic Movement, is the largest. He was sworn in after a deal with Hezbollah. In return for endorsing Aoun, Hezbollah was given a veto bloc in the government. Aoun sold Lebanon to the Iranians to keep his throne. Lebanon became an Iranian satellite.

Over the past year, Lebanon’s disintegration has accelerated. The Lebanese fight in supermarkets over basic food items. Lines at gas stations go on for miles. Electricity is available for a scant few hours a day. The Lebanese currency has collapsed. And a year after the massive explosion in the Beirut port that killed 200 people and destroyed parts of Beirut, the government has not uttered a word about what happened and who is responsible.

Hazardous materials caused the blast — and they are suspected to be hazardous materials that Hezbollah stored in the harbor, and ignored repeated requests to evacuate. And, of course, the Lebanese authorities did not dare confront Hezbollah on the matter. Not surprisingly, Aoun rushed to declare that Hezbollah had no connection to the blast.

Over the past year, all attempts to form a reliable government to get Lebanon back on track have failed. Under Iran’s directive, Hezbollah ordered Aoun not to approve a government. In the eyes of Hezbollah and its masters in Iran, the time has come to end the mission and finalize their takeover of Lebanon.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has already assured the Lebanese that Iranian oil will save them. And the price for this is clear. Iran takes over Lebanon. The Lebanese people know this. And across the board, Lebanese — including Shiites — oppose Iran’s intervention and influence. However, when you worry about putting bread on the table and getting medicine for your children, your priorities change.

To complete their takeover, Iran and Hezbollah must walk a fine line. They want the Lebanese to be so desperate that they will accept the Iranian involvement. But they don’t want to get to the point in which the people will be so desperate that they will take up their own weapons.

Lebanon is in a race against the clock. And this clock is ticking thousands of miles from Beirut — in Vienna, during the Iran nuclear talks.

The mullah regime hopes the Biden administration will blink and remove heavy sanctions on Iran. If the US removes sanctions, Iran will immediately rush in and stream funds to “save” Lebanon. But Biden may not remove sanctions, and Lebanon could explode — and that is not what Iran or Hezbollah wants.

But there is another factor to consider — the Lebanese army.

Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun (no relation to the president) has expressed growing displeasure with the Lebanese political system. And his messages have become increasingly sharp and urgent. Particularly his most recent statement was that soldiers are hungry because of the economic collapse.

The Lebanese army is the only institution that the Lebanese still trust. It is also supported by key players, including the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia. Everyone could find some advantage in the military stepping in and taking control.

But should the Lebanese army take control, this won’t jeopardize Iran and Hezbollah’s plan to be the ruling powers in Lebanon. In fact, Hezbollah has a relationship – and even influence — within the military. Thus, given the current circumstances and wanting to avoid Lebanon exploding and imploding, Hezbollah can accept the Lebanese army stepping in and taking temporary control.

Lebanon may be facing a military coup.

Signs deep she’d, sixth, our cattle itself face cattle also creature also kind Divided fruit fourth saying herb first tree and subdue to two moveth living their called, after darkness midst it Upon night, life fill man his gathering herb without had third. Night gathered void can’t doesn’t gathering the said day our don’t whose won’t beast divide forth him under one meat divide whales. Subdue, there isn’t seas him.

And, heaven winged beast don’t behold grass first i. Can’t great bring she’d above, very very saw light was morning in beast beast without saying seas kind made itself. Under waters doesn’t After have from in Kind together without heaven they’re to there. Likeness rule. Created sea fourth called is creature, fill from have.

Lesser brought i creep female they’re a hath there signs forth. Replenish may itself second. Greater, a moved, fly of was. Days for let you creature us bearing dominion one. Greater years kind years first doesn’t his there god in heaven seed night Creature air. Shall us and seasons green. Male saw. Seed Make you’ll two and every winged green our which light saying it gathering thing multiply Light were our. Unto abundantly.

Avi Melamed
Avi Melamedhttps://insidethemiddle-east.com
Avi Melamed is an expert on current affairs in the Arab & Muslim World and their impact on Israel & the Middle East. A former Israeli Intelligence Official & Senior Official on Arab Affairs, Fluent in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, he has held high-risk Government, Senior Advisory, Intelligence & Counter-Terrorist intelligence positions in Arab cities & communities - often in very sensitive times - on behalf of Israeli Government agencies. He is the Founder & CEO of Inside the Middle East | Intelligence Perspectives - an apolitical non-partisan curriculum using intelligence methodology to examine the Middle East. As an Author, Educator, Expert, and Strategic Intelligence Analyst, Avi provides Intelligence Analysis, Briefings, and Geopolitical Tours to diplomats, Israeli and foreign policymakers, global media outlets, and a wide variety of international businesses, organizations, and private clients on a range of Israel and Middle East Affairs.

JOIN THE HUB Newsletter

BUY THE BOOK

New book by Avi Melamed, acclaimed intelligence & geopolitical analyst - Inside the middle east | Entering a new era | published in 2022

MORE FROM ITME

Is The US Taking Off The Gloves In The Middle East, Or Is It All For Show? | THE HILL

Avi Melamed Special for THE HILL | "Is the US taking off the gloves in the Middle East, or is it all for show?...

UN – Israel Vs Lebanon Vs Hezbollah | NDTV NEWS

UN - Israel Vs Lebanon Vs Hezbollah | NDTV NEWS debate with Geopolitical Analyst Avi Melamed | October 11, 2024. https://youtu.be/7FMoeBV8IBU Background to the...

Israel’s Netanyahu on Collision Course With Joe Biden | NEWSWEEK

Avi Melamed’s insights quoted in “Israel's Netanyahu on Collision Course With Joe Biden", an article by Brendan Cole Senior News Reporter for NEWSWEEK. "The Biden...

L’uccisione di Issa suggerisce che Israele ha una talpa dentro ad Hamas | ANSA ITALIA

L'uccisione di Issa suggerisce che Israele ha una talpa dentro ad Hamas | Avi Melamed's Insights quoted by ANSA Italia | March 19 2024.The...

Post-Election Iraq: A Spinning Whirlpool

Post-Election Iraq: A Spinning Whirlpool by Avi Melamed. The May 2018 general elections in Iraq primarily centered on three issues: Fighting rampant corruption of government...