Lebanese President Joseph Aoun took office with broad public support for reasserting government control over Hezbollah, the powerful armed organization that operates largely independent of state authority. However, his efforts to limit the militant group's military autonomy have stalled as fighting between Hezbollah and Israel continues to escalate.
The renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on March 2 and has persisted despite a ceasefire that began on April 17. Both sides have maintained near-daily exchanges of fire in the months following the truce. The ongoing violence has intensified calls within Lebanon for the government to constrain Hezbollah's independent military operations, which many blame for dragging the country back into armed conflict with its neighbor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a major escalation of military operations against Hezbollah. "I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "We will intensify our blows, increase our firepower, and we will crush them." Israel accused Hezbollah of breaching the ceasefire and issued evacuation orders for ten villages in southern Lebanon.
In response, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Israeli military targets on Monday and Tuesday. The group said it launched at least four drone attacks on Shomera barracks, attacks on two additional barracks, and another strike on a military post in Misgav Am. Hezbollah stated these attacks were carried out "in response to the violation of the ceasefire" by Israel.
The escalating violence has prompted widespread displacement. An Agence France-Presse correspondent observed residents fleeing the southern suburbs of Beirut, a major Hezbollah stronghold. Israeli airstrikes targeted the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon and multiple towns in the south, including areas near the ancient city of Tyre.
The humanitarian toll has been severe. According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes since early March have killed more than 3,100 people. The Israeli military reported that one soldier was killed in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since fighting began to 23, with one civilian contractor also dead.
Two far-right Israeli ministers called for expanding the military campaign. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged putting "an end to the threat posed by Hezbollah's explosive drones," while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for a "return to intensive warfare" and "taking control" of further territory.
Aoun's apparent inability to bring Hezbollah under government control suggests the Lebanese government lacks either the political will or practical capacity to challenge the well-armed organization that functions as a state within a state. The group's continued military autonomy and escalating conflict with Israel have undermined the president's central reform agenda.