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As internal divisions simmer, Lebanese see echoes of civil war

From Kathmandu Post · (1d ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Lebanese individuals who lived through the 1975-1990 civil war see alarming echoes of that conflict in the current tensions and displacement caused by the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
  • Decades-old sectarian and economic divisions, which were never fully reconciled, are resurfacing and pushing the nation towards a breaking point.
  • Former combatants and journalists warn against repeating the past, emphasizing the devastating consequences of internal conflict and the risk of renewed fighting among Lebanese communities.

As a Lebanese publication, the echoes of our devastating civil war (1975-1990) are not merely historical footnotes; they are visceral reminders of a past we desperately hoped would never return. The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, coupled with the resulting displacement and deepening sectarian friction, has brought back chilling memories for those who lived through that brutal period. The parallels are striking: the scale of displacement already surpassing figures from the civil war, the re-emergence of Beirut as a potential battleground, and the chilling prospect of renewed inter-communal violence.

This letter could be written today.

— Ziad SaabCommenting on a letter received in 1981 detailing Israeli bombardment, noting the similarity to recent Israeli strikes.

What is particularly concerning is the resurfacing of internal divisions that underpinned the civil war and were never truly reconciled. Ziad Saab, a veteran of that conflict and head of Fighters for Peace, powerfully warns, "Don’t repeat our experience. Because you’ll be surprised where it will take you. We ripped the country apart." His words, delivered while reading a letter from 1981 detailing bombardments on villages Israel has recently struck, underscore the cyclical nature of our national trauma. The rapid Israeli strikes on April 8, which killed over 300 people, are described by Saab as having "basically brought back the scenes of the whole civil war in seconds."

Don’t repeat our experience. Because you’ll be surprised where it will take you. We ripped the country apart.

— Ziad SaabA former combatant warning against repeating the mistakes of Lebanon's civil war.

Hezbollah's enduring presence and arsenal, a legacy of the civil war, continue to be a central point of contention. While the international community, particularly the US, pushes for negotiations and disarmament, the internal political landscape remains deeply fractured. The government's gradual efforts to confiscate Hezbollah's arms, fearing a direct confrontation, highlight the delicate and dangerous tightrope Lebanon walks. From our perspective, this is not just a geopolitical conflict; it is an existential crisis that threatens to tear our fragile society apart once again. The international media may focus on the Israeli-Hezbollah dynamic, but for us, the most terrifying prospect is Lebanese turning on Lebanese, repeating the tragic mistakes of our past.

Basically brought back the scenes of the whole civil war in seconds.

— Ziad SaabDescribing the impact of recent Israeli strikes on Lebanon, evoking memories of the civil war.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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