Lebanon in Turmoil on 15th Anniversary of Hariri Assassination

(New York, N.Y.) – Lebanon is in crisis 15 years after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on  February 14, 2005. Evidence implicates Iran’s proxy Hezbollah – which saw Hariri as a threat to its position in Lebanon – as responsible for his murder.  Since Hariri’s death Lebanon has been on a downward spiral—its economy is on the verge of complete collapse and protests are enveloping the country.

This has all occured while Hezbollah and its political allies have tightened their grip on the country. In the February 2019 Cabinet, Hezbollah and its allies controlled 19 of its 30 ministries, with the group itself gaining control of three ministries. The 2020 Cabinet, ostensibly formed of technocrats, is equally beholden to the group. The new Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, has been aligned with Hezbollah since he served as Education Minister in the 2011-2014 Cabinet. The rest of his ministers are aligned with Hezbollah’s Free Patriotic Movement and Amal Movement allies, while at least two – the Industry Minister and Health Minister – were directly picked by the group. Reports also indicate that Hezbollah approved the appointment of the new Minister of Interior, whose ministry controls the Internal Security Forces.

Eye on Hezbollah, at UANI-owned www.hezbollah.org, maintains a comprehensive timeline, organizational chart, and reports on the Party of God’s rise in the Lebanese political system. The timeline outlines key military and political milestones; the organizational chart lists the core institutions and members of the Hezbollah network in Lebanon; and UANI’s analysis assesses U.S. policy on Hezbollah.

To explore UANI’s Eye on Hezbollah, please click here.