BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Lebanon remains locked in a vicious cycle since last year's cease-fire accord that never truly ended the war, facing an unrestrained Israel imposing its own terms and ignoring calls for negotiations.
Meanwhile, the United States is applying pressure solely on Beirut, and Hezbollah resists disarmament and funding cuts to preserve its own survival.
Unless the United States and eventually Israel change their current strategy, the likely outcome would be a broader escalation -- another round of destructive war -- and ultimately the breakdown of Lebanon, political analysts and risk strategists warn.
For a year now, since the Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Israel has acted with near-total freedom, striking suspected Hezbollah operatives and positions almost daily, causing further destruction and casualties, even though this also leads to killing civilians.
The Iran-backed group, which was severely weakened during the war that erupted when it opened a support front for Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, kept a low profile and refrained from retaliating, instead quietly attempting to reorganize its ranks and secure new channels for rearming and refunding.
