Nadene Goldfoot
There is a meeting of land belonging to Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
Hezbollah terrorists are from Lebanon. Shrapnel from a Hezbollah strike shattered the window of a child's bedroom in Kiryat Shemona,Israel, throwing glass on the child's bed. Thankfully, the parents had moved their child into the home's shelter prior to the attack.
Prior to 1982, the PLO with Yasser Arafat engaged in a campaign of armed struggle against Israel, conducting guerrilla raids, rocket attacks, and international acts of terrorism, including plane hijackings and the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. Based in Jordan and later Lebanon, they aimed to destroy the state of Israel and establish a Palestinian state, resulting in constant border skirmishes.
In June 1982, Israel went into Lebanon (Operation Peace for Galilee) to destroy the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, stop artillery attacks on northern Israeli communities, and secure its border. The offensive, spearheaded by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, expanded into a strategic attempt to weaken Syria's influence and install a pro-Israel Lebanese government.
Hezbollah established strong ties with Iran and is part of the "Axis of Resistance". The group was initially supported by 1,500 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) instructors, who helped unify various Lebanese Shia factions under Hezbollah's leadership. Hezbollah's 1985 manifesto outlined its key objectives, which include expelling Western influence from the region, destroying Israel, pledging allegiance to Iran's supreme leader, and establishing an Islamic government influenced by Iran's political ideology.
AI tells us that
- Military Escalation: Israel has intensified airstrikes, targeting areas in southern Lebanon and near Beirut, destroying critical infrastructure like the Qasmiyeh Bridge.
- Casualties & Displacement: Over 1,000 people have been killed, including over 100 children; who were not protected by their own people, since the surge in violence intensified around March 2, 2026. Over 1.2 million people are displaced. Who they belonged to: The children were Lebanese civilians living in Lebanon, specifically in areas targeted during Israel's campaign against Hezbollah, including southern Lebanon and Beirut
- Ground Invasion Fears: Israel has announced plans to establish a, "large buffer zone" in southern Lebanon and has continued to target Hezbollah positions, raising fears of a broader, long-term ground invasion.
- International Concerns: The U.S. State Department has issued warnings to avoid travel to the region and urges citizens to depart, noting risks from ongoing airstrikes and clashes.
- Economic & Humanitarian Crisis: The country's infrastructure is severely damaged, with hospitals and schools struggling to operate. This follows a long-term economic collapse that has seen the currency lose 98% of its value since 2019.
- Despite a previous, "political deadlock," reports from late 2025 indicated the election of a new president (Joseph Aoun) and a new head of government (Nawaf Salam), although the country remains reliant on external aid for recovery.
- The current conflict has placed extreme pressure on these authorities to manage the ongoing security and displacement issues.
- In Summary, As of late March 2026, Lebanon is facing an intense security and humanitarian crisis due to escalated Israel-Hezbollah fighting. Over 1,000 people have been killed and over 1.2 million displaced as Israel targets Hezbollah infrastructure to end their attacks, raising fears of a full-scale ground invasion. The country is also reeling from a long-term, severe economic collapse. Perhaps it is because Iran is in no condition to continuing arming Hezbollah.
