Conflict in Lebanon

Despite the gravity of this conflict and the massive casualty toll, the international community demonstrated a lack of willingness to invest the resources necessary to disarm militant groups, extend the sovereignty of the Lebanese state over all its internationally recognized territory and prevent the resumption of conflict. [...] Drawing from the framework of fourth generation warfare, the analysis explores the role of the different parties to the conflict. [...] The question that begs an answer is not whether another conflict will erupt in Lebanon, for that is an inevitable certainty; the question is the degree to which the parties to the conflict will be equipped for the next round and whether the international community will muster the courage to intervene in a more significant fashion in the future, not only to curb the violence, but to promote long-te [...] Hezbollah’s legitimate standing in Lebanon was the result of governing institutions’ years of neglect of the Shi’a community in the south and the disproportionate influence of Christian minority politics. [...] However, incremental growth of the Shi’a Muslim population in southern Lebanon, strengthened in part by the presence of the PLO and Israel’s invasion from 1982 to 1985, catalyzed the emergence of Hezbollah (the Party of God).