‘Hezbollah at Peak Readiness Against U.S., Israeli Plan’
LONDON (Dispatches) --
Prominent Arab analyst Abd al-Bari Atwan has asserted that Hezbollah in Lebanon has firmly stabilized its position and stands at the peak of military and psychological readiness to confront what he calls the American-Israeli enemy and their collaborators.
In an article published Sunday by Rai al-Youm, Atwan addressed recent political developments in Lebanon, highlighting the resilience of the Lebanese resistance movement.
He underscored remarks by Hezbollah parliamentary bloc leader Muhammad Raad, who declared that disarming Hezbollah would be tantamount to succumbing to Israeli and American diktats, constituting both national suicide and betrayal of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Atwan criticized Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for their hasty acceptance of the American “Tom Barrack” initiative, accusing them of complicity in a conspiracy aimed at disarming Hezbollah—an act he warned would ignite Lebanon into renewed civil conflict.
He further noted that previous U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein’s efforts to impose ceasefires and engineer covert operations failed to weaken Hezbollah. Atwan expressed confidence that Hochstein’s successor, Barrack, would likewise fail in attempts to dismantle the resistance or coerce Lebanon into normalization with Israel.
According to Atwan, the true threat to Lebanon’s stability does not come from Hezbollah supporters demonstrating in Beirut’s southern suburbs, but from those endangering the country by fostering civil strife.
He warned that disarming Hezbollah would erode Lebanon’s Arab-Islamic identity, echoing the fate of Iraq and Libya where similar efforts under the guise of democracy and human rights led to state collapse.
Atwan praised Hezbollah’s political and military leadership for their vigilance and refusal to fall into Israeli traps disguised as American policy. He asserted that Lebanon’s resistance has achieved a state of preparedness, ready to face its adversaries decisively.
The analyst also emphasized the shifting dynamics compared to Lebanon’s first civil war, noting that current conflicts focus on Hezbollah’s weapons—the backbone of the national resistance and dignity.
He predicted that any attempt by American and Israeli forces in Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah would fail and inflict heavy consequences on Washington and Tel Aviv.
Highlighting the solidarity within the Lebanese army’s majority, Atwan expressed confidence that the military will side with Hezbollah, rejecting conspirators aiming to undermine Lebanon’s security.
Atwan reminded readers of the defeats suffered by the U.S. and Israel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza, and most recently in the recent 12-day war on Iran, asserting that Hezbollah’s precise missile strikes on Tel Aviv and key Israeli military installations signal the enduring strength of the resistance.