In Lebanon, some see Tehran's downfall defanging Hezbollah
In hushed conversations behind closed doors, many Lebanese people opposed to Iran-backed Hezbollah see regime change in Iran as a way of ridding themselves of the group.
In hushed conversations behind closed doors, many Lebanese people opposed to Iran-backed Hezbollah see regime change in Iran as a way of ridding themselves of the group.
Considered fearsome by Israel and their Lebanese countrymen, Hezbollah once held a de facto veto over politics in Lebanon by virtue of the arms and sought to scotch domestic discussion on turning in its arsenal.
Hezbollah members were accused of assassinating a former prime minister
A punishing war with Israel which crescendoed with attacks on Hezbollah leaders' communication devices sapped the group and much of its sway at home and abroad.
A chastened Hezbollah, once seen as a key deterrent for its Iranian patrons against Israeli attack, totally sat out the 12-day Iran-Israel war in which Tehran was bruised.
A political analyst in Beirut, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told Iran International: “It is very clear Hezbollah is not getting involved in the Iran-Israel war. They realized the cost is very high and they can’t afford to. Many of us here are simply watching and hoping that after this war on Iran, the whole region will be better.”
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem’s recent statement rallied to Iran's side but stopped well short of pledging action.
“We in Hezbollah are not neutral between Iran’s legitimate rights and independence and America’s falsehood and aggression, and we act as we see fit in the face of the Israeli-American aggression against Iran.”
But after decades of wars in Lebanon, its people are tired, the analyst said.
“People here want peace, they want to work, to build the country back up. Iran is sending arms and money to Hezbollah to build Lebanon into a country according to its own vision. This isn’t what we want.”
Hezbollah not over
A Christian citizen, who asked to be called only by his first name George, told Iran International that Hezbollah's presence is Lebanon persisted despite setbacks.
"They are still very capable of creating domestic problems even if less so or a new war with Israel. We are now afraid they could cause another civil war, which would be a disaster for us to go through again,” George said.
Last year, Israel pounded the group and killed the group’s top political and military leadership, including its veteran charismatic leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Huge swathes of the group’s military capabilities have been degraded and infrastructure destroyed.
Israel continues to strike Hezbollah members, missile launchers and weapons caches. despite a US-France-brokered ceasefire.
George hopes the Israeli and US attacks against Iran could weaken the group.
“Iran is the father of Hezbollah, giving them arms, money, so this war will help a lot,” George said, hopeful of a brighter future for his homeland.
On the missile path
Lebanon sat below the pathway of Iranian missiles bound for Israel this month, with video footage showing Beirut's party life barely pausing as they streamed in the sky.
After Lebanon was under fire as Israel and Hezbollah battled it out last year, the peace feels eerily strange to some.
“It’s surreal to see this as we sit in the middle,” said one mother of three in Beirut who asked to be called Fatima.
“We have gone through so much, that of course we still fear Hezbollah can start something again, but it seems for now, they are not getting involved. I think it’s clear they know they are not strong enough after what we went through last year.”
However, there are those who still bear the scars of years of war with Israel. Ahmad, whose family are in Beirut and suffered displacement after the 2019 port explosion, told Iran International: “Personally I’m celebrating.
"I’m happy to see Iran’s rockets going to Israel because finally someone is doing this. No other country bombed back like this before.”
When asked if he thinks Lebanon and the Middle East could be more peaceful without the dominance and political influence of Tehran, he said: “No, I think that getting rid of Israel will bring peace.”
Lebanon is still paying a heavy price for the last round of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, with thousands dead and wounded, and thousands more displaced.
Now, amid the war with Iran, several airlines have cancelled flights to Lebanon and diplomatic missions have evacuated staff despite the peak summer travel season.
The country’s political leadership is calling for calm, urging diplomatic solutions in fear of being dragged into yet another conflict.
President Joseph Aoun said on Sunday: "The recent escalation of Israeli-Iranian confrontations and the rapid developments accompanying them, particularly the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, are likely to raise fears of an expansion of tensions that threatens security and stability in more than one region and country."
The ongoing war began on June 13 with waves of Israeli airstrikes across Iran.
“Hundreds of civilians, including women and children, have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes and millions have fled major cities for fear of further attacks,” the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran and the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran said in an online statement, describing the Iranian population as “traumatized.”
Israel says it is targeting military objectives. However, UN experts say some of Israel’s actions appear to violate the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law, including the strike on Iran’s state broadcaster (IRIB), and the targeted killing of scientists.
At least 950 people have been killed and 3,450 injured in Israeli strikes across Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The dead include 380 civilians, 253 military personnel, and 317 individuals of unknown status. Israeli attacks have hit 25 provinces, damaging homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure.
Lack of 'effective' advance warning
The UN Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission and the Special Rapporteur on Iran have also raised concerns. Among those reported killed were residents of an apartment complex, three aid workers from the Iranian Red Crescent, and patients at a hospital in Kermanshah, according to the report. Other sites struck include a clinic for children with autism.
The UN said a lack of effective advance warning may have prevented civilians from reaching safety, raising concerns over compliance with the principles of proportionality, distinction, and precaution.
Airstrikes and evacuation orders have triggered mass displacement in Iran, with millions leaving Tehran. Limited access to shelters, fuel shortages, and disruption of essential services have increased civilian vulnerability.
Iranian counterstrikes have caused casualties and damage in Israel, with at least 24 killed and 1,217 injured, according to authorities. One missile struck a hospital in southern Israel, injuring staff and patients and forcing evacuations. Other strikes hit residential areas, prompting sirens across the country.
While many projectiles were intercepted, some got through, causing fires, power outages, and structural damage.
Internet blackout
On June 18, Iran’s Ministry of Communications imposed widespread internet restrictions, further complicating efforts by civilians to coordinate evacuations or contact family. The UN says this digital blackout has made it more difficult to assess the full scale of the humanitarian impact.
UN experts have also noted reports of arbitrary arrests of journalists, activists, social media users, and Afghan nationals accused of espionage. At least two people have reportedly been executed, and Iranian authorities have announced expedited trials, raising concerns overdue process.
Target: Evin Prison
One of the sites hit in Tehran on Monday was Evin Prison, which houses political prisoners and human rights activists, among other inmates. Iran’s judiciary said the strike damaged parts of the facility. State television broadcast footage of emergency responders carrying casualties and searching through rubble.
Israel’s defense minister said the military struck “regime targets and agencies of government repression,” including Evin.
Amnesty International condemned the attack, calling it a potential war crime, and urged Iranian authorities to release those arbitrarily detained and relocate others away from sites at risk of future strikes. The group also warned against the use of force by prison officials in response to unrest among detainees.
The UN called on Iranian authorities to relocate prisoners held near potential strike sites and urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law.
“The escalating hostilities pose grave risks to civilians across the region,” the Fact-Finding Mission and Special Rapporteur said, “with ordinary families and communities bearing the brunt of a conflict that threatens their safety, livelihoods, and daily lives.”
