Lebanon in Chaos
The nation of Lebanon is in chaos after two weeks of nationwide protests that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The nation has been in a difficult economic situation for months. As the country’s economy deteriorated, debt ballooned and the price of goods across the nation dramatically inflated. On October 17, the government attempted to implement new taxes on several goods which led to massive protests across the nation. At his resignation speech, Hariri stated, “I can’t hide this from you. I have reached a dead-end. To all my political peers, our responsibility today is how to protect Lebanon and to uplift the economy. Today, there is a serious opportunity and we should not waste it.” His resignation came hours after protestors in Beirut crashed through the capital’s main protest site, shouting “Shia, Shia" and singing chants in support of Hezbollah and Amal -- another Lebanese political party.
Lebanon is no stranger to political vacuums, having been embroiled in multiple crises over the years that pitted Saudi-backed Hariri against Iran-backed Hezbollah. Hariri’s national unity government, first formed in 2016, brought some years of stability as the two foes set aside their differences. But it also presided over a floundering economy. Decades of government mismanagement and widespread corruption have crippled Lebanon’s finances, adding pressure to the currency and causing the debt to swell. The country has one of the world's highest debt-to-GDP ratios and around a third of its population lives under the poverty line, according to the World Bank. Hariri’s resignation could deepen the latest unrest and exacerbate the economic crisis. It could lead to political infighting and create a new government that is under the influence of the three other power players in the region: Russia, Turkey and Iran. Iran has already attempted to direct influence in the region with its promotion of Hezbollah for years.
This new power vacuum could spell trouble for Israel in the future, as Lebanon sits on the northern border of the nation. Should radical Islamic groups or pro-Iranian groups take control of the nation’s government, it could lead to a more chaotic border than is already present. Hezbollah has a strong footing in the nation and causes significant trouble for Israel. If they, or groups like them, were to get significant control of the Lebanese government, it could only escalate the tension in the region. Israel has tension between Iran, Syria, Turkey and now Russia, who is attempting to gain more and more influence in the region. As we have previously reported, Iran has backed Hezbollah in the region for years. They work to destabilize the area and create trouble on the Lebanon-Israel border. Hezbollah is armed with thousands of military rockets received from its Iranian benefactors. Unpredictability in the region and within the Lebanese government will only hurt the desire for peace and stability in the region.
Israel as a nation has long been an island in a sea of enemies and this tension could lead to even greater volatility in the region. God promised to protect the nation and has done so on numerous occasions since their reestablishment in 1948. However, tensions are at a high in the region and war is very likely as many of her Islamic allies seek her demise. We need to continue to pray that God will protect the nation and that Israel will continue to be able to stand strong in a very difficult situation.
Pray- Pray that tensions in Lebanon will decrease and that a new Lebanese government will arise that is in favor of promoting peace within the region.