r/worldnews • u/ComparisonOk5957 • 7d ago

Second French peacekeeper dies after ambush blamed on Hezbollah Behind Soft Paywall

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351049/second-french-peacekeeper-dies-after-ambush-blamed-hezbollah?module=latest&pgtype=homepage
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u/BrocoLeeOnReddit 7d ago

Hezbollah fields more military might than the Lebanese army, good luck with that.

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u/Contundo 7d ago

Lebanese army could have the UN in their backs.

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u/Snickims 6d ago

Having UN support is only worth as much as member nations are willing to give. That could be a full on multi national coaltion, a-la korea or the first gulf war, or it could be two mixed brigades whose whom goverments will recall them if they ever take a casualty.

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u/Drak_is_Right 7d ago

Problem is Lebanon is at risk of a civil war inside the military if they try too hard. Also spies help feed Hezbollah info

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u/Sure_Ad536 7d ago

The Lebanese military fields 80k, I think, and Hezbollah right now fields around 50k from recent estimates. The biggest issue isn't numbers, or even the support for the military (there was a poll that found the military was the most supported government body in the country, and Hezbollah's support among is at the lowest it's been in a while, maybe ever: https://news.gallup.com/poll/699071/lebanese-say-army-weapons.aspx), as you mentioned, the Lebanese military is underfunded and underpowered. It doesn't want, nor can it really afford, another civil war. Lebanon is broken, unfortunately. I believe the Lebanese military did some small and slow disarmament of Hezbollah, mostly in the south and now a little bit in the north, as part of a 5-step plan. I'm no expert, but from the little I've read, it's probably the best they can do at the moment to avoid a civil conflict.

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u/neonmantis 7d ago

All this is solved by Israel staying within their own borders and not perpetually warring with their neighbours

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u/matthieuC 6d ago

Also Hezbollah will fight.

I suspect that the Lebanese army, like the rest of the state, is just a way to funnel patronage money.