The latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, now officially named Operation Northern Arrows by Israel, has pushed Lebanon into a new chapter of devastation

Over the past 48 hours alone, Israeli airstrikes have targeted more than 1,300 Hezbollah sites, including rocket launchers and military infrastructure deeply embedded in civilian areas across southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the strikes have claimed nearly 500 lives, with over 1,600 wounded – a toll that includes both militants and civilians​.

As thousands of families flee their homes, the weight of the humanitarian crisis becomes impossible to ignore. The displaced are caught in the crossfire of a conflict they had no part in starting. Homes are being destroyed, livelihoods shattered, and children’s futures are uncertain. At this moment, it’s essential to hold both the parties accountable for the suffering of the Lebanese people.

The humanitarian toll: civilians pay the price

Southern Lebanon is once again the frontline of a war that civilians did not choose. While Israeli airstrikes are aimed at Hezbollah positions, the reality on the ground is far more devastating. Civilians, living in areas where – according to Israel – Hezbollah stores weapons, are bearing the brunt of the attacks. Residential buildings, homes, and even schools have been destroyed, as Israel’s military strikes aim to neutralize Hezbollah’s rocket capabilities​.

The death toll is staggering, including children and non-combatants. These are not just numbers; they represent the shattered lives of families who are now displaced, grappling with loss, and uncertain of their future. Many of these people do not align with Hezbollah’s political or military goals, yet their homes are destroyed, and their communities are torn apart.

Israel’s responsibility: disproportionate force and collective punishment

Israel’s military response, though framed as a defensive measure against Hezbollah’s rocket attacks, raises serious concerns about the disproportionate use of force. By targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure, much of which is embedded in civilian areas, Israel has caused significant civilian casualties. The argument that Hezbollah uses civilians as shields does not absolve Israel from its responsibility to minimize civilian harm. Collective punishment – destroying entire neighborhoods in an attempt to neutralize militants – violates international humanitarian law and exacerbates the suffering of innocent people​.

While Israel claims that its strikes are necessary to protect its northern citizens from Hezbollah’s rocket fire, the cost is staggering. Entire communities in southern Lebanon are being leveled, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced and deepening the humanitarian crisis. Israel must be held accountable for its actions, as the civilian death toll rises with each passing day.

Hezbollah’s role: reckless decision-making and regional ambitions

At the same time, Hezbollah cannot escape blame for drawing Lebanon into this war. For months, some Lebanese have warned that Hezbollah’s military activities, tied to Iran’s regional ambitions, would lead to disaster. Hezbollah’s decision to engage in open conflict with Israel, while positioning weapons and military infrastructure in civilian areas, has put the entire country at risk.

While Hezbollah frames its actions as a defense of Lebanon, the reality is that it has made unilateral decisions that disregard the broader interests of the Lebanese population. These decisions serve regional power dynamics, particularly Iran’s strategy of using Hezbollah as a proxy force, rather than protecting Lebanese sovereignty. The people of Lebanon are paying the price for Hezbollah’s reckless military strategies, as Israeli airstrikes target the very communities that Hezbollah claims to defend​.

Polarization in Lebanon: a nation divided

The current escalation between Israel and Hezbollah has highlighted the deep and widening divisions within Lebanon. On one side, pro-Hezbollah supporters remain steadfast in their belief that Hezbollah is Lebanon’s last line of defense against Israeli aggression. For them, Hezbollah represents not only military strength but also a source of national pride and resistance. Any critique of Hezbollah’s actions, especially during a time of war, is viewed as a betrayal – an undermining of Lebanese sovereignty and unity in the face of an external threat. This sentiment runs particularly strong in the majority of Shia communities, where Hezbollah’s influence is deeply entrenched, and resistance against Israel is tied to a broader struggle of defending Lebanese identity against foreign occupation.

However, this narrative is far from universally accepted. On the other side of this divide are a growing number of Lebanese citizens, exhausted by the country’s ongoing economic collapse, political dysfunction, and Hezbollah’s increasing dominance in both military and political spheres. These citizens, many from secular, Christian, and Sunni communities, are calling for accountability – demanding an end to the group’s unilateral decisions that continue to drag Lebanon into conflicts it cannot afford. They argue that Hezbollah’s actions, tied to regional dynamics and Iranian influence, have isolated Lebanon internationally and worsened its domestic crises. For these critics, the question is not about resistance but about survival: how long can Lebanon continue to pay the price for a war it has no control over?

This polarization is not just a matter of political discourse, but is visible across social media platforms, where debates are becoming increasingly charged. Supporters of Hezbollah argue that the group’s military actions are a necessary response to Israeli aggression, while critics express frustration over how Hezbollah’s influence has effectively silenced dissent within Lebanon’s fragile democracy. Anti-Hezbollah voices are growing louder, arguing that the group’s control over Lebanese decision-making processes has stripped the government of its ability to operate independently, turning the country into a battleground for larger regional powers, especially Iran and Israel.

This division has deepened over the past 11 months, as Hezbollah has steadily increased its military posture in preparation for the current conflict. Many Lebanese feel that the country is trapped in an endless cycle of war and destruction, while a single political and military faction makes decisions on their behalf. Meanwhile, Hezbollah supporters are unwavering in their belief that Lebanon’s security and sovereignty depend on the group’s ability to resist Israeli incursions, no matter the cost.

Ultimately, the question facing Lebanon is not only how to resolve the current conflict but how to address the deep-rooted political and sectarian divisions that this war has laid bare. As both sides of the political spectrum dig in, the potential for genuine national unity grows increasingly remote. The stakes have never been higher for Lebanon, a nation whose future depends on finding a way to bridge these divides – or risk descending further into bloody chaos.

Ramzi Abou Ismail is a  political psychologist and researcher at the University of Kent.

The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW.