After the Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Lebanese authorities are struggling to contain the escalation of tensions

On Wednesday, July 31, Hezbollah officially announced the death of one of its high-ranking officers, Fouad Chokr. The latter was killed Tuesday evening in Israeli fire that hit the southern suburbs of Beirut. The risk of a Hezbollah response is on everyone’s mind and the Lebanese authorities are struggling to contain the situation.

Powerless. This is how one could describe the Lebanese authorities. For two years, Lebanon has been without a president of the Republic and has been operating through an interim government. Only the head of government, Najib Mikati, remains. Meeting with its ministers on Wednesday after the Israeli strike, the resigning government launched an appeal for help. “We strongly condemn this attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut and fear a worsening of the situation if the entire international community does not rush to curb this dangerous escalation,” Najib Mikati reacted.

Lebanese ministers also met on Wednesday at the site of the strike. Walid Fayad, the energy minister, took advantage of the media presence to denounce the Israeli operation. “Now Israel has reached Beirut with these attacks, did he declare. They are condemned by Lebanon, its people, its army, its leaders and its resistance. We are all united against the Zionist aggressions.”

For the past 48 hours, the Lebanese Prime Minister has seen representatives from Washington, Paris, the UN, and the Blue Helmets parade by. All are worried about an escalation in the region and a potential response from Hezbollah. In the past ten months alone, neither the Lebanese authorities nor international diplomacy have been able to calm tensions. Everyone is aware that until the war in Gaza ends, the issue of stability in Lebanon will remain insoluble.