While the fighting in the north continues and escalates, and tensions along the Lebanon border show no signs of abating, more and more testimonies point to a certain shift in internal discourse in Lebanon regarding Hezbollah.
Whereas public criticism of the organization was once rare and dangerous, now more voices, even from within the Shi'ite population, are questioning its role and the consequences of its actions on the country.
It is important to emphasize that this is only a partial shift. Lebanon has yet to see a broad or organized protest against the organization, but a certain loosening of the fear barrier can be identified, particularly in the digital space and on social media, where citizens are allowing themselves to express more critical views than in the past.
Jonathan Alkhouri, a Lebanese affairs analyst, described in an interview with Maariv a process he refers to as "cracks in the fear mechanism."
"We are seeing more people speaking out openly, posting videos, giving interviews, and asking why Hezbollah operatives are acting within civilian populations despite the risks this creates,” he said.
He referred to this as a gradual yet significant change. "Such things would never have been aired before. Today, it's already reaching Lebanese media and even the international arena," he explained, mentioning that Lebanese activists in international forums have begun to voice their criticism of the terror organization.
Hezbollah still holds political, social power
However, the reality in Lebanon itself is much more complex. Despite the criticism, Hezbollah continues to maintain significant military power and deep influence over the political, security, and social systems. The organization also enjoys support from parts of the population, alongside the economic and social dependence of citizens on the mechanisms it operates.
"This is a public that lives under prolonged repression, without any real ability to act," explained Alkhouri. "Since the early 2000s, politicians, journalists, and activists have been eliminated, and this has also eradicated the ability to effectively resist."
According to Alkhouri, some Lebanese people also feel a growing frustration towards the organization, especially against the backdrop of security escalation. "Some blame Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon into the conflict, and for exposing the country to harm rather than protecting it," he said.
Meanwhile, on social media and in private conversations, more complex voices are emerging. Some Lebanese citizens are expressing deep exhaustion with the situation and even a desire for the end of Hezbollah’s rule, even if the cost is high.
However, these positions do not necessarily represent the entire population and are sometimes expressed cautiously or anonymously.
According to various testimonies, there is a particularly deep sense of frustration among Lebanon’s younger generation. Many young people are grappling with a severe economic crisis, political instability, and an uncertain future, with some viewing Hezbollah as a factor that deepens the crisis rather than resolving it.
‘Resistance’ banned from media language
Alkhouri also points to a certain shift in Lebanon’s media language, which he said is moving further away from defining Hezbollah as a "resistance organization." "There is more and more use of terms like 'militia,' and this is part of an attempt to deny it legitimacy," he said.
One of the prominent expressions of the shift in discourse also comes from the official arena in Lebanon. According to Alkhouri, Lebanon’s Ministry of Information issued a directive to state-run media to stop using the term "resistance" in reference to Hezbollah and to refer to it by its name only.
This step is intended to strip the organization of the public legitimacy it has gained over the years, he explained. "The terminology directly affects public opinion. Once Hezbollah is no longer presented as a legitimate resistance organization, it also seeps into the public and undermines its status."
At the same time, the fear of further escalation remains very present. "The Lebanese citizen today is frightened, frustrated, and sees no clear horizon," he concluded. "There is a sense of a country being dragged into a conflict it didn’t necessarily choose."
Despite the new voices, it seems that this is still just an initial process. The gap between growing criticism in discourse and the real ability for political or security change in Lebanon is still large, and its impact on the reality on the ground has yet to be clarified.