Lebanon found itself once again at the center of spiraling regional tensions this week, as its prime minister publicly rebuked Hezbollah for refusing to disarm, blaming the group’s intransigence for prolonging the suffering of ordinary Lebanese people. The criticism came on November 28, 2025, just as Israel unleashed another round of airstrikes on suspected Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, a stark reminder that, despite last year’s ceasefire, the threat of renewed conflict looms large.
According to reporting from the Associated Press, the Lebanese prime minister argued that Hezbollah’s continued armed presence was not only undermining Lebanon’s post-war recovery, but also placing its citizens in harm’s way. “Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm is hurting the Lebanese people at a time when the country is trying to recover from the group’s war with Israel last year,” the prime minister stated, highlighting the deep divisions within Lebanon over the group’s role and the wider regional consequences.
The latest Israeli airstrikes targeted what the Israeli military said were Hezbollah-linked sites in the south, underscoring Israel’s ongoing campaign to prevent the group from rearming. One year has passed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which brought an end to months of heavy fighting that devastated swathes of southern Lebanon and displaced thousands. Yet, as Reuters notes, Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and has recently stepped up its air campaign, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its arsenal in defiance of international agreements.
The timing of these strikes is particularly sensitive, coming just ahead of an anticipated visit by the pope to Lebanon. Many Lebanese had hoped the papal visit would symbolize a new chapter of peace and reconciliation, but the renewed violence has cast a shadow over those aspirations. The fragile calm that followed last year’s war now looks increasingly precarious, with fears growing that Lebanon could once again become a battleground in a larger regional struggle.
Meanwhile, the conflict’s reverberations are being felt far beyond Lebanon’s borders. On the same day as the airstrikes, Israeli jets reportedly conducted simulated strike maneuvers in Iraqi airspace near Iran, with support from US KC-135 refueling aircraft. This show of force, detailed by Al Jazeera, was widely interpreted as a warning to Iran and its allies in the region. The maneuvers coincided with a dramatic drone attack on Iraq’s Khor Mor gas field, which set gas storage tanks ablaze and drew condemnation from Iraqi officials as an assault on both security and economic stability.
Adding further fuel to the fire was the assassination of a senior Hezbollah figure in Lebanon, an event that occurred shortly before or on November 28, 2025. The killing sent shockwaves through Hezbollah’s ranks and prompted Iranian officials to issue stern warnings. According to Iranian state media, security voices close to Iran’s leadership declared that “Iran’s patience has limits,” in the face of mounting provocations. Iranian outlets also highlighted ongoing efforts to rebuild and reinforce the so-called “axis of resistance”—the alliance of Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen—raising the specter of a new confrontation between Iran and Israel.
The possibility of such a conflict is not merely theoretical. Earlier in 2025, Israel and Iran fought a brief but intense 12-day war, the memory of which remains fresh in the minds of regional leaders and ordinary citizens alike. The recent spate of military maneuvers and targeted killings has reignited fears that the region could once again be plunged into open warfare. As The Guardian notes, even a small miscalculation could trigger a cascade of retaliatory actions, drawing in multiple actors and destabilizing the already fragile balance of power.
On the ground in Lebanon, the situation is especially fraught. The country is still reeling from last year’s war, which compounded an already dire economic crisis and left much of the population struggling to rebuild their lives. Many Lebanese view Hezbollah’s armed status as a double-edged sword: while some see the group as a necessary deterrent against Israeli aggression, others argue that its refusal to integrate into the national armed forces and disarm is holding the country hostage to outside interests.
The Lebanese prime minister’s remarks reflect this growing frustration. By openly criticizing Hezbollah, he has staked out a position that aligns with those calling for greater national sovereignty and an end to what they see as foreign interference. Yet, as past attempts have shown, disarming Hezbollah is easier said than done. The group enjoys significant support within parts of the Lebanese population and maintains a formidable military capability, making any move to forcibly disarm it a risky proposition.
For its part, Israel contends that its ongoing military operations are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from regaining the strength it lost during last year’s conflict. Israeli officials argue that allowing the group to rearm would only set the stage for another, potentially more destructive war. “We will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its arsenal,” one Israeli defense official told Haaretz, echoing a sentiment widely shared within the Israeli security establishment.
Yet, these actions have drawn criticism from some quarters, who argue that continued airstrikes and occupation of Lebanese territory only serve to strengthen hardliners within Hezbollah and its allies. The cycle of violence, they contend, risks alienating moderates and making a political resolution even more elusive. International observers, including the United Nations, have repeatedly called for restraint on all sides and for renewed efforts to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
In the wider region, the shadow conflict between Israel and Iran continues to play out in a series of proxy battles and covert operations. The recent drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq is just the latest example of how economic targets are increasingly coming under threat, with potentially devastating consequences for local communities. Iraqi officials, speaking to Al-Monitor, described the attack as “an assault on regional security and economic stability,” warning that continued escalation could undermine efforts to rebuild Iraq’s war-torn infrastructure.
As November draws to a close, there is a palpable sense of unease across the Middle East. The convergence of military maneuvers, targeted assassinations, and political recriminations has created a volatile mix, with the potential to ignite a broader conflict at any moment. For Lebanon, still struggling to recover from last year’s devastation, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Amid this uncertainty, one thing is clear: the path to lasting peace remains as elusive as ever. The coming weeks will test the resolve of leaders on all sides to avoid a return to the cycle of violence that has plagued the region for decades.