After the ceasefire following the relentless attacks and counter-attacks from Hezbollah and Israel, the field was left to the war of words as militarily nothing was achieved for Israel or Hezbollah. Israel didn’t manage to return its captured soldiers as it failed to completely disarm and destroy Hezbollah. Hezbollah didn’t get the release of Arab prisoners from Israeli Jails as it didn’t mange to get Israel out of Shebbaa Farms it claims to be Lebanese soil.
But in view of the big mismatch between Hezbollah force and Israeli force both in men and equipment, Hezbollah can claim victory in that Israel destroyed more civilian installations than military ones and it killed in its raids more civilians than Hezbollah fighters. In a sense, Hezbollah force remained intact.
Hezbollah also won huge popularity, especially in the Muslim world at the expense of Israel that has been portrayed as an aggressor. During the war, there were big demonstrations in many Muslim countries as there were “victory” celebrations at the start of the cease-fire. Hezbollah seems not to have disappointed its backers Syria and Iran as through its confrontation with Israel it stirred the international community to take action including sending huge peacekeeping force.
Hezbollah can now use its TV channel Al Manar showing footage of its struggle against Israel, the damage, human and material Israel left in Lebanon to keep hold of the hearts and minds it has won. Hassan Nasr Allah may give himself the right to be the new idol in the Muslim world and the Middle East.
Hezbollah has more time to be in the news as there are still international preparations for completing the peacekeeping force. When all is quiet, it will no longer be in the news drawing such an interest. Then it will have the real task of keeping its credibility among the Lebanese population and its stature among Syrian and Iranian leaders, its main supporters.
The international community has to see the outcome of this war in its context. It has to look to Lebanon, the country and to resurrect it from the rubble it is under now instead of letting it continuously remain the battleground where proxy wars are made and in which the civilian population pay the heaviest price.
