Lebanon: fifty years of crises and conflicts

The collapse of Lebanon cannot be explained by a single factor.

It is the result of decades of war, foreign interference, sectarian divisions and deep political corruption. However, the activities of Palestinian armed organizations, the rise of Hezbollah and the growing influence of Iran have been instrumental in weakening the liberal state and consolidating a state of permanent instability.

After 1970, when the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine was expelled from Jordan during the events of Black September, Lebanon became the main centre of Palestinian armed activities. The organisation created strong military structures inside the country and in many areas it effectively acted as a parallel authority. Conflicts with Israel originating on Lebanese soil prompted repeated military responses, and internal tensions between the communities eventually led to the 1975 civil war. For much of Lebanese society, the presence of armed organizations not accountable to the state was a serious blow to national sovereignty.

Following the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, conditions were created for the emergence of Hezbollah. With financial, military and ideological support from Tehran, the organization quickly became a dominant force in the Shi’a region and gained significant influence in southern Lebanon. Although it presented itself as a movement of resistance against Israel, it gradually evolved into a state within a state, and to this day is classified by many countries as an Islamist terrorist organization. In any case, it has maintained an independent army, its own welfare structures and considerable political influence, often operating outside the country’s institutions.

At the same time, Iran has used Hezbollah as a key tool to extend its influence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Decisions concerning military conflicts with Israel or participation in the Syrian war were not taken in the light of Lebanese interests, but were part of a broader regional strategy of Tehran. As a result, Lebanon repeatedly found itself at the centre of conflicts that went beyond its own national issues.

However, the crisis cannot be attributed solely to external factors. The Lebanese political class also bears a huge responsibility. For decades, the political system was based on clientelism, family power networks and large-scale corruption. Public money was wasted, reforms were not carried out and state institutions were weakened. The economic collapse that erupted in 2019 revealed the scale of the problems: failing banks, soaring poverty and the collapse of key public services.