Lebanon defends itself: Iranian interference and the Hisbollah in focus

Lebanon defends itself: Iranian interference and the Hisbollah in focus

Libanon, Libanon - On April 24, 2025, Lebanese politician Amani vehemently commented on social media about a disarmament project supported by the USA. In doing so, he described the project as a clear conspiracy against several nations and made a special reference to the required disarmament of the Hezbollah militia, which is strongly supported by Iran in Lebanon. Amani also criticized the United States, which provide advanced weapons and rockets to Israel, while they are denying other countries access to military equipment.

In the last conflicts, especially in the shadow of war against Israel and the arguments in Gaza, the Hisbollah is perceived as much weakened. The Lebanese state is now exposed to the pressure to enforce a ceasefire hit at the end of November 2024, which, among other things, provides for the disarmament of the Shiite organization. Hisbollah has developed into a “state in the state” during the Lebanese civil war and has a significant influence on various sectors in Lebanon. It is considered the most important non -state ally of Iran.

The role of Hisbollah in Iran-Libanese context

according to the SPIEGEL Hisbollah of central importance for Iran and is considered ideologically and militarily as the "crown jewel" of the Iranian axis of resistance. Iran has clear interests in the stability and strength of the Hisbollah, especially on the border with Israel, since weakening this group could also endanger the position of Tehran.

azadeh Zamirirad from the SWP explains that it is too early to write down the Hisbollah. Despite the current weakness, the group has repeatedly produced new and dynamic leaders in the past. While Iran is still ready to invest in the Hisbollah in order to rebuild its management structure, the question remains whether this could lead to a greater military escalation according to which there are controversy in Iranian society.

regional dynamics and possible threats

There is increasing concern in the Iranian population on the regional military ambitions and support for militant groups. Many show rejection to the regime, especially when it comes to support for military actions. There are currently no reliable surveys that indicate broad support from the population for an escalation with Israel. Nevertheless, the potential for radicalization remains as long as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unsolved.

At least it remains uncertain how the situation will develop. According to Tagesschau , Iran will work closely with the Hisbollah to strengthen their military and logistical structures, which indicates that the struggle for influence in the region is far from over. The balance between military commitment and the growing unrest in Germany is a serious challenge for Tehran.