Ayman Mhanna: 'Lebanon has become the theatre for a war between Israel and Iran'

Ayman Mhanna, Executive Director of the Beirut-based Samir Kassir Foundation, argues that Lebanon has become a proxy battleground for an Iran-Israel conflict, with the country unable to assert political control over armed non-state actors like Hezbollah. While Lebanon has demonstrated competence in humanitarian aid distribution and coordination with international institutions, Mhanna explains, its structural weakness in exercising sovereignty over militias undermines both its internal legitimacy and international credibility. The assessment reflects a broader challenge facing the Lebanese state: its inability to monopolize force and assert full authority over territory where Hezbollah operates independently. This dynamic has deepened as direct military confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah intensified in recent months, drawing Lebanon into broader regional tensions.