Iran just bombed Israel in retaliation for strikes on Beirut, doing what Lebanon’s own government has refused to do.
Here’s how I broke it down on Al Jazeera:
Iran had explicitly warned: bomb Beirut and we retaliate. The US called that bluff by green lighting Israel anyway. Tonight Iran answered.
The Lebanese government has condemned Iran for trying to secure a ceasefire for Iran while allying with the Americans who arm, fund and coordinate with Israel’s strikes on Beirut.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam came to power on the back of a weakened Hezbollah post-2024. Hezbollah supporters warned they were American clients who would sell Lebanon out. They are being vindicated in real time.
The anti-Hezbollah camp is trying to achieve through Israeli bombs what they cannot win democratically. Hezbollah is part of Lebanon’s largest elected parliamentary bloc. This is violent gerrymandering, using a foreign army to destroy a political rival you can’t beat at the ballot box. (I forgot to add that they did the same in 2006)
The people of the South feel completely abandoned by a government that has joined the enemy.
Israel wants permanent war. Trump wants a deal. Israel is using Lebanon to torpedo that deal. Tonight we find out if Trump actually has the political will to end this disastrous war.