Saturday, July 21, 2012

Will Hezbollah Implode If The Syrian Regime Collapses?

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah addresses supporters by video during the sixth anniversary of the Israel-Hezbollah war, in Haret Hreik, Beirut, July 18. He condemned the Damascus bombing that killed key Syrian leaders that same day, calling them "comrades" in the struggle against Israel. He said Hezbollah's "most important rockets" in the 2006 war came from Syria. Sharif Karim/Reuters

With Syria Imploding, Is Hezbollah Next? -- Benedetta Berti, Christian Science Monitor

Hezbollah’s loyalty to the brutal regime in Syria is costing it support and exacerbating divisions in Lebanon. Its message runs contrary to the Arab Spring. If a link is found between the militant group and the bus bombing of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria, that makes it look even weaker.

Hours after the bombing that killed senior security officials in Damascus on July 18, Hezbollah’s leader resolutely backed his ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But such support does not help this militant group, which relies so heavily on Syrian assistance.

The occasion for the remarks by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah – delivered from the safety of his bunker in Lebanon – was the anniversary of Hezbollah’s “divine victory” in the July 2006 war against Israel. However, there was nothing victorious about his televised appearance. It merely confirmed Hezbollah as increasingly out of touch with the Arab Spring – hastening its decline.

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Update: Despite Attack, Hezbollah Is Vulnerable -- Max Boot, Commentary

My Comment:
I doubt that Hezbollah will implode .... but it will definitely be weakened. Hezbollah will also need to be concerned on what their enemies in Lebanon would start to do if the Alawite-Shiite dominated government (and close ally) in Syria is replaced by one that is not .... Israel may end up being the lesser of their worries.

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