🇺🇸🇨🇳 — Trump said he doesn't want war with China, but he is prepared for it.

— 🇮🇱/🇸🇾 NEW: Israeli airstrikes in Homs, Syria, casualties have been reported.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇱/🇸🇾 U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff: 'We are hopeful that Syria could normalize relations with Israel in the future. Jolani is a very different person than he once was. People change.'

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇮🇱/🇸🇾 NEW: Israeli airstrikes targeted the Deir Ezzor Airport in Eastern Syria, located on the border with Iraq

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇱🇧/🇱🇧 NOTE:

This is the first time Hezbollah ever publicly denied a rocket attack. In the past, it was clear by the nature of the attack whether Hezbollah was involved or not. It was not even needed to deny. But due to the political climate, especially the internal situation in Lebanon, a clarification was necessary despite the launch being obviously unrelated to Hezbollah.

For months, actually for over a year now, many Lebanese have leveraged accusations at Hezbollah, saying it is taking the matters of the Lebanese State into its own hands. That it is Hezbollah which decides on peace and war, when it should be the Lebanese Government that does.

So, Hezbollah's position now is clear: The party fought for 1 year and 2 months against the Israeli enemy, in a battle it did not need to get involved in for its own sake, rather they saw it as their religious and moral obligation to support Gaza when no one else did. Towards the end of this battle, especially in the last months, Hezbollah took some major blows, which shook the foundation of the Resistance apparatus in Lebanon. The pager attack, the martyrdom of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and so on. And then, to add onto all of that, Syria fell, and Lebanon elected a moderately anti-Hezbollah President.

With all these current conditions in mind, it is not only unfeasible to return to an armed conflict with Israel at this point, it is also completely irresponsible. Hezbollah needs to focus on rebuilding, and it needs to spend its resources wisely, especially now the Syrian supply route is gone.

It is very simple: Hezbollah is allowing the Lebanese State to deal with all the issues. It is allowing the Lebanese Government to handle the situation, just like those who oppose Hezbollah have always wanted. For all these years, it was Lebanon that needed Hezbollah. But now, it is Hezbollah that needs Lebanon. It is up to the Lebanese State to guarantee the Israeli adherence to the ceasefire. And most of the politicians in Lebanon know that Lebanon needs Hezbollah for its security, yet they are ungrateful and do not even provide the minimum.

In the 1980's, in 2000, in 2006, and in 2023-24, Hezbollah and the Shia gave their blood, and some of the Lebanese people gave them nothing but blame.

Hezbollah is now staying silent and passive, partially because the current situation necessitates it, and partially because it will only show and reveal the true face of the Lebanese Government — it will show people that Hezbollah is, and always has been, necessary to secure the safety of Lebanon.

Let the Lebanese Government prove their worth. If they can function, govern and secure their country without Hezbollah, then let them prove it, now is the time.

@Middle_East_Spectator