DW Documentary: Lebanon in the stranglehold of Hezbollah

The Lebanese government is proving unable to cope with the disaster. The country has a religious political power sharing system that has allowed sectarian networks to thrive. The Iranian-funded Shia organization Hezbollah in particular has Lebanon in a stranglehold. Hezbollah leaders are known to exercise at least a degree of control over the port, despite claims to the contrary. It’s here that some 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded. On al-Quds Day — the last Friday of Ramadan — Hezbollah showcases its military might with a huge annual parade. Thousands of supporters come together for the ensuing rally in a Beirut suburb.

Al-Quds Day was initiated by Iran’s former Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 as a day for all Muslims to stand against Israel. It’s conceived as a day of anger and revenge. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah usually addresses the crowds via video message — he’s unable to appear in person for fear of being attacked by Israel. So he reaches out to his supporters from a huge video screen, issuing fierce denunciations of Israel.

Nasrallah and his powerful Iranian-armed militia threaten not only Israel, but also the United States. Since the war in Syria was decided, with Hezbollah militants helping to keep the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in power, the group’s influence in the region has grown. Hezbollah has skillfully increased its political and military power in recent years, becoming a state within a state. But there is growing resistance. Civil society forces are seeking to overcome the age-old religious conflicts and use democratic means to strike a new course.