Hezbollah’s decision to engage in the ongoing Middle East war in support of its ally, Iran, has opened a rift with its key political allies within Lebanon. This has left the group increasingly isolated as the country slides toward a devastating new conflict with Israel.
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The move, which surprised even some of the group’s senior officials, has deepened divisions within Lebanon over Hezbollah’s status as an armed force—an issue that for decades has made it one of the country's most powerful political and military players.
Founded in 1982, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward Israel on Monday in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The attack was followed by a swift Israeli retaliation that killed dozens of Lebanese and displaced tens of thousands. This comes just 15 months after a previous war that left widespread destruction across Lebanon and exacerbated its acute economic crisis.
The escalation has revived long-standing criticisms within Lebanon accusing Hezbollah of acting as a "state within a state," given its military arsenal that surpasses the capabilities of the Lebanese Army and its repeated role in dragging the country into conflicts with Israel.
Tension with Key Political Allies
Even the close alliance between Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has been shaken, according to four Lebanese sources familiar with the rift. Berri’s stance reflects a broader state of resentment within the Shiite community—the group’s primary popular base—according to interviews with more than a dozen Lebanese Shiites, including Hezbollah supporters.
In response to criticisms accusing the group of prioritizing Iranian interests over Lebanese ones, Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati told Al-Jadeed TV that the group's political and military decisions are "Lebanese."
However, Lebanese political figures close to the group and a high-ranking Lebanese security official said many senior political officials within Hezbollah were not aware of the attack decision in advance. They explained that while the group’s decision-making bodies—the Shura Council and the Jihad Council—approved the operation, most political leadership was not informed, leaving them in a state of confusion on Monday.
When asked about internal divisions, Qmati stated that the group operates with the "highest levels of unity."
A Rift with the Amal Movement
The attack also revealed a fracture in the relationship between Hezbollah and Nabih Berri, leader of the Shiite Amal Movement. For decades, this partnership formed a powerful political "duality" representing the Shiite sect in the Lebanese system. Berri has long served as a key mediator, communicating with other parties on behalf of Hezbollah, including his role in negotiating the 2024 ceasefire that ended the last war with Israel.
However, prior to the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Berri had received assurances from Hezbollah that it did not intend to launch a war on Israel or respond to Israeli attacks against Iran, according to Lebanese political sources. Berri conveyed these reassuring messages to top Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun.
The subsequent attack carried out by the group reportedly infuriated Berri, who felt he had been misled, according to four political sources. During a cabinet session on Monday, ministers affiliated with the Amal Movement did not vote against a decree aimed at banning Hezbollah's military activities.
A Lebanese political source close to the group said Berri felt unable to withstand the growing pressure to isolate Hezbollah. Michael Young, a researcher at the Carnegie Middle East Center, said the situation sets the stage for a political confrontation between the Lebanese government and the group.
"Hezbollah is in a very bad position and has been backed into a difficult corner," Young added.
For his part, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasser al-Din, one of the ministers affiliated with Hezbollah, said the group objected to the government's decision, emphasizing that "the Resistance should not be held accountable." Qmati added that Hezbollah has not let down its ally Berri, noting that this will become clear in the coming days.
Shock Within the Supportive Base
A politician close to both Berri and Hezbollah said the dispute between the two parties would not last long. "We have to fix this, but we can’t even reach senior Hezbollah officials right now; they are unavailable," he added.
Even within the group’s popular base, many expressed surprise at the decision to attack, according to a dozen supporters who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of publicly criticizing the group.
One supporter said he participated in a rally called by the group on Sunday evening to protest Khamenei’s death, returning home believing that would be the extent of the response.
"We were surprised when Israel said rockets were fired from Lebanon, and we were waiting for Hezbollah to deny it. But the real surprise was when the group claimed responsibility," he said.
He continued: "Frankly, we do not support starting a war with unknown consequences. Never. Whoever made this decision is wrong. Look at the people in the streets—scattered and not knowing where to go. Does this community, which has made all these sacrifices, deserve this?" - Reuters
