The resistance has dragged Lebanon into a dark phase from which it cannot emerge unless its influence over the country’s decisions, affairs, and role is restrained. Ever since the movement took control of the government and its institutions, Lebanon has been in a state of unrest, trapping its citizens in a cycle of death and endless wars. It deceived the Lebanese, portraying itself as a divine force and taking stances that were perceived as a balance of power and deterrence until its members ended up buried under the ruins or in search of shelter.
In any respectable country, officials who make mistakes in their decisions resign and are held accountable, regardless of the aftermath of their actions. But this principle doesn’t apply to the resistance, which kills and then seeks to blame the victims.
If only the ones who uttered ‘If I had known’ were held accountable after the July 2006 war, they would not have repeated the same actions in October 2023. And those who did, confessed and admitted their responsibility for a war that killed and displaced citizens, and caused destruction. For such action, the slightest measure should have been to disarm their party, as they would be held liable for these consequences in any sovereign country.
What is needed today goes beyond restoring the state’s sovereign decision-making, reclaiming responsibility for its borders, or ensuring exclusive jurisdiction over its weapons; these are just the bare minimum. What is truly required is holding accountable those who destroyed Lebanon and took the lives of its people once again. Only by accountability can we build the state that the Lebanese people aspire to have.
Worst of all, is that those who destroyed Lebanon and took the lives of its people continue, with their typical audacity, to threaten anyone who demands legitimate arms. They hold onto control of their weapons, which has brought nothing but suffering, death, ruins, and misfortunes upon the Lebanese people.
How can those who waged war without the state’s consent, despite knowing that the vast majority of Lebanese opposed it, escape accountability? How can the party responsible for this decision remain active, and its sponsor, Iran, not be held liable for the war? Why has no complaint been filed against Iran in the Security Council, nor demands made to the international community to release its confiscated funds as compensation for the Lebanese people?
The international community has finally recognized the threat to regional stability, and will no longer allow Lebanon to serve as an arena for Iran’s destructive agenda. While this indicates Lebanon’s potential regain of its sovereign role, more measures remain required. The party that waged war must face accountability and legal action.