Hezbollah may resort to assassinating political rivals in Lebanon as its grip on the country weakens, according to a Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC)-affiliated expert who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. In recent months, Hezbollah has faced growing restrictions on its power, including new legislation limiting its ability to legally possess weapons and conduct military activity, as well as Beirut’s participation in talks with Jerusalem in Washington.
The measures were introduced after Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into another war by launching attacks following the February 28 assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to a recent ITIC assessment, Hezbollah is acutely aware of Beirut’s fears of a potential civil war and has repeatedly hinted at or directly threatened such a scenario.
The report noted that Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned in August that civil war “could happen,” while recent weeks have seen the group intensify its rhetoric against Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. In April, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chairman of Hezbollah’s political council, declared that once the group concluded its campaign against Israel, a “popular tsunami will sweep away this government, its political sins, and its policies.”
Hezbollah supporters have also circulated online imagery portraying Aoun and Salam as Zionist collaborators. On May 3, the Hezbollah-affiliated “Hezbollah Field” Telegram channel published images depicting Aoun dressed in religious Jewish garb alongside the caption: “A prime minister who is a loyal servant of Zionism and a hostage to Zionist agendas.” (Read More)
