Beyond the Bravado: Confronting Hezbollah’s Hypocrisy

The recent episode of "bravado on Airport Road" has laid bare the deep fractures within Hezbollah’s leadership, to the point where it has become impossible to ignore this profound disarray. This internal chaos reached its peak when Hezbollah distanced itself from the protesters who attacked a UNIFIL convoy as the party’s media outlet, Al-Manar, labeled them as chaotic and undisciplined. Yet, in an unexpected turn, the party itself called for a demonstration on the Airport Road to express its political stance on the incident.

Looking at the broader context, it becomes clear that neither PM Nawaf Salam, nor the Minister of Public Works, nor the current Lebanese government, nor the Lebanese Army signed the ceasefire agreement with all its well-known provisions which Hezbollah has refused to honor. It was, instead, the government of Najib Mikati and Speaker Nabih Berri — once described by Hezbollah’s chief, Naim Qassem, as the "elder brother" — who were tasked with negotiating on the group's behalf with the American mediator, Amos Hochstein. Given this fact, it seems more appropriate for the demonstration to have been held elsewhere, not on Airport Road.

This situation puts the onus on Hezbollah, particularly on its Secretary-General, to acknowledge the party’s defeat and stop denying the truth. Rather than redirecting the focus inward to impose a new political equation, the group must make the necessary concessions and face its supporters with the new reality.

After the occupation of previously unoccupied lands and the widespread destruction and loss of life resulting from a senseless war, the most prudent course of action would have been for Hezbollah to honor the provisions of the ceasefire agreement it had accepted. The alternative — deceiving the public and engaging in a dangerous security game — only exacerbates the instability. 

A new path is necessary; one that leads to a fresh start and a new era for Lebanon. This era must be grounded in cooperation and shared responsibility, moving toward a state that is free from the control of any militia, offering no pretext for future aggression or conflict. It is time to shift the focus from internal divisions and political posturing to the pressing need for national unity and a peaceful future.