Lebanon's Future: The Need to Eradicate Hezbollah
Many Lebanese residents believe that military action is needed to eliminate Hezbollah. However, they worry that Israel will pull out before fully liberating them from the Iranian-backed group, according to two exiles who are descendants of members of the Southern Lebanon Army.
Running for Their Lives
Maryam Younnes was only five years old when she had to escape her home in Dibil in southern Lebanon. She had to leave her grandmother and cousins behind, and she has been unable to see or speak to them legally ever since.
Her father, Elias, was a commander in the South Lebanon Army (SLA). He fought against the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which used Lebanon as a base to launch attacks against Israel and terrorize local communities.
"We were on our own. No one was there to help us, just like what’s happening now. There was no military. The PLO was brutal with us, they were forcing us into a war with Israel; they were slaughtering us," Maryam remembered.
When Israel withdrew in 2000, Hezbollah branded Elias as a "traitor". The family had no choice but to flee when Hezbollah's leader threatened on national television to kill anyone who had cooperated with Israel.
Forced to Leave Their Homeland
Despite being so young at the time, Maryam still remembers details of her village and the close relationships she had with her family members.
"We were forced to leave our country. We struggled for 20 years for our country, and then in one night we had to abandon everything and run away," she recounted.
Even after 26 years, it's still tough for her to accept that she can't talk to her family back in Lebanon. Now she is part of Israel’s Lebanese Maronite community. About 7,000 SLA members like her found refuge in Israel and started new lives there, unable to return to their homeland.
Hezbollah's Reign of Terror
Hezbollah has not spared Christian and Druze villages in southern Lebanon from its violence. The group once spread false rumors that IDF soldiers were hiding in the local church of Dibil, causing the building to be attacked with artillery and rocket fire.
Hezbollah rockets have often ended up in Lebanese villages instead of their intended targets in Israel. Maryam shared that Hezbollah fighters have also been known to position themselves near these areas, hoping that Israel would strike them and cause civilian casualties.
Lebanon's Struggle for a Hezbollah-free Future
Many Lebanese residents understand the need to remove Hezbollah for a peaceful and prosperous Lebanon. However, they are also scared that history will repeat itself, and Israel will withdraw before completing the mission.
There is a widespread fear among the Lebanese people that an agreement with Iran might worsen the situation in Lebanon. They worry that Hezbollah will turn its weapons on them.
"Hezbollah is the country's cancer, and I believe most Lebanese people are hoping that Israel will finish the job," Maryam pointed out.
The High Cost of Hezbollah's Actions
The Lebanese people have paid a steep price for Hezbollah’s decision to drag them into another round of conflict. Despite the heavy toll, many Lebanese understand why Israel is fighting and support efforts to rid the country of Hezbollah.
Unfortunately, a significant portion of Lebanon's population has been displaced, and there have been thousands of civilian casualties since the conflict began.
"I don’t see how a person can treat cancer without hurting the whole body," Maryam said, addressing the tragedy of civilian casualties. "If there was another way to do it, I would be the first one to advocate for it. But there isn't. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that only understands force, so you need to crush it and take its weapons."
The only thing that could justify such suffering, she said, is the assurance that this will be the last war Lebanon fights, and that the international community will ensure Hezbollah is finally gone.
Hope for a Return Home
If Israel can successfully cleanse Lebanon of Hezbollah, Maryam hopes to return to her village. She also hopes for an agreement that would allow her to split her time between her two homes.