Lebanon Also Faces its Fate: Iran Is Determined To Seize Complete Control
20 November 2017By Abdulrahman Al-Rashed
This country, which is smaller in size than Kuwait, has an influence that goes
beyond its population and geographic borders. Due to its numerous crises and
problems, none of its leaders or parties or regional and international powers
have been able to keep it off the track of regional crises.
An example of this was the escalation orchestrated by some government
officials, such as the foreign minister and Lebanese president himself, in
dealing with Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation. It may seem strange
that those most supporting Hariri at the moment are his adversaries. It is
likely that they are being prompted by powers that are opposed to Saudi
Arabia, such as Qatar and Iran. Iran is determined to seize complete control
over Lebanon after it had imposed itself by force over Syria.
Lebanon has always been a theater for regional disputes. It had previously
been the arena for conflicts between various Arab powers and leaderships.
Later Egyptian President Jamal Abdul Nasser was forced to use it against his
rivals in Syria and the Gulf. Iran's Khomeini used Lebanon against the United
States through bombings and assassinations. Syria had the lion's share in
turning Lebanon into an open field for its operations. Late Syrian President
Hafez Assad and later his son, Bashar, insisted on meddling in Lebanon's
affairs, despite the political losses they incurred, because they believed
that their smaller neighbor was a danger to Syria. They thought that
international conspiracies were being concocted there against them.
Today, Lebanon is being used as a workshop and it plays a vital role in the
war in Yemen. The Iranians are using it to direct their security, hostile and
military operations there. I had discussed this in a previous article.
Beirut was and still is a center for international media and because it is
controlled by "Hezbollah", then nearly all of the Houthis' non-combat
activities pass through Lebanon, not Yemen itself. This includes political,
legal and media campaigns against Saudi Arabia and the coalition it is
leading.
Beirut was also a safe haven for rebels against the government of former Iraqi
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. It was also a center for anti-Maliki
activities.
In addition, Lebanon is an important workshop and arena for the Syrian
intelligence, recruitment and propaganda war. Most conflicts seek a country
like Lebanon with its open and diverse society and weak central authority.
Major regional countries are therefore destined to fight over their power and
will not find a way out of avoiding dealing with the situation in Lebanon.
There are allies and adversaries. Alliances are never permanent regardless of
shared sectarian, ideological or even family ties.
The main and chronic Saudi Arabian problem in Lebanon is Iran, which is
represented by "Hezbollah." This is a problem shared with the majority of
regional countries and the world. Riyadh focused on an important message,
which is that Lebanon cannot remain "Hezbollah's" prey. The Lebanese and
Arabs, who underestimate the party, may not be aware that it could completely
take over the Lebanese state and eliminate all of its diversity and liberties.
"Hezbollah" will destroy all of Lebanon's independent groups, Christian and
Sunni alike, if it forges ahead with its agenda of transforming Lebanon into
an Iranian territory. These new challenges are the responsibility of the
Lebanese people themselves, who, should they unite against "Hezbollah", would
find regional and international support. If they fail to do so, then they will
be the first to lose in the new equation of Iran's hegemony over Syria and
Iraq.
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed is the former general manager of Al-Arabiya
television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, and the
leading Arabic weekly magazine Al-Majalla. He is also a senior columnist in
the daily newspapers Al-Madina and Al-Bilad.
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