ATFL VP of Policy and Communications Patricia Karam writes for the Arab Center.
❝ [T]he successful targeting of a senior Hezbollah commander in a dense urban area refocuses attention on Lebanon’s fragile sovereignty. The current rules of the game put Lebanon at risk of becoming an arena for external power contests, but the situation is not sustainable. For many Lebanese citizens, no matter their communal background, the cumulative economic, social, and displacement pressures linked to recurring cycles of confrontation are increasingly difficult to absorb.
The current moment demands a concerted push—by domestic actors and international partners alike—to accelerate and reinforce the ongoing LAF–led disarmament process. Tabatabai’s killing should be a reminder that unless the state is strengthened and its armed forces empowered, Lebanon will remain hostage to decisions made far beyond its borders. ❞