If Lebanon has no future, neither does the region

Nearly half a century after Israeli tanks first crossed into southern Lebanon, a troubling question hangs over the region: how many times can the same military strategy fail before it is recognised as a political dead end? From Operation Litani in 1978 to the invasion of 1982, from the 2006 war to the current 2026 incursion, Israel has repeatedly entered Lebanon under the banner of security. The justification has remained remarkably consistent: neutralise cross-border threats, establish a buffer zone, protect northern Israeli communities, and restore deterrence. Yet the historical record tells a different story. Each campaign has inflicted immense destruction, generated mass displacement, reshaped Lebanon’s political landscape, and ultimately ended with Israeli withdrawal rather than strategic resolution. The cycle continues […]