How Israel is trying to generate civil strife in Lebanon
Al Jazeera
Israel is hitting targets far from Hezbollah-controlled areas, spreading panic and fear across Lebanon.
Beirut, Lebanon – On October 14, Israel killed 22 people in the northern Lebanese village of Aitou in an air attack.
Israel claimed it struck a “Hezbollah target” but the attack on a predominantly Christian town has made many wonder if Israel is expanding its war to chase down Hezbollah members and mainly Shia Hezbollah supporters wherever they may have fled to.
“I can only guess Israel’s motives, but obviously they are trying to make the Shia community toxic by trying to isolate them completely,” said Michael Young, a Lebanon expert for Carnegie Middle East Center.
Lebanon runs a confessional system, with political posts reserved for members of specific religious sects.
The fragile system has been historically exploited by regional states for their own geopolitical goals, by dividing the country’s political factions and religious communities.
