On March 2, barely two days after the start of the Zionist and US aggression against Iran, the genocidal state of Israel invaded Lebanon. In the last month only, they have usurped more than 15% of the territory in the south of the country, destroyed more than 10,000 homes, and displaced 1 million people out of a total population of just over six million. Their criminal actions, which in addition to the incursion by their army have included bombings throughout the country, have already killed more than 1,500 inhabitants. On April 8 alone, during 10 minutes, they unleashed more than 160 missiles on the defenseless civilian population of Beirut, destroying entire buildings, infraestructure, and causing 300 new casualties.

The attacks of Zionism on Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries began several years ago. These actions are part of the strategy of the State of Israel and the United States to redraw the map of the Middle East to suit their interests. In recent years, we have witnessed the ongoing Zionist genocide in Gaza, the advance of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, the invasion of Syria, the bombing of Yemen, and the criminal attack on Iran, where they have dropped tens of thousands of bombs and killed thousands of children and civilians, as well as regime officials. The aggression they have unleashed in the region has led to the spread of the conflict to more than 10 countries and threatens to continue expanding.

Imperialism and Israel encountered unexpected resistance in Iran. The recently signed precarious ceasefire has been Trump’s way out of the very complex situation he finds himself in. Beset by his growing unpopularity at home and the economic crisis caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, he has had to sign a truce and agree to negotiate an agreement that, if finalized, would be a clear victory for Iran and demonstrate that the monster is not invincible. But we will have to wait and see how events unfold. The day after the alleged truce, Israel unleashed the bloodiest attack on Beirut in recent memory. In retaliation, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again.

Israel, which was forced to support the ceasefire in Iran, refuses to extend it to Lebanon. This will deepen the humanitarian crisis and the possibility of a sectarian civil war breaking out in the country, as the hundreds of thousands of displaced people from the south, mostly the social and religious base of Hezbollah, are forced to settle in predominantly Christian areas, which has already begun to cause friction and clashes.

Netanyahu is facing harsh criticism domestically for agreeing to halt the offensive against Iran without achieving the promised objectives. He is in an increasingly precarious situation internally. There’s the possibility of him losing the elections and end up facing corruption charges. This explains his aggressive approach in Lebanon.

An international campaign is needed to support the Lebanese people and oppose the brutal aggression of the colonialist enclave. Lebanon has every right to defend itself. And revolutionaries and those who defend democracy around the world have an obligation to stand with them and fight for the defeat and expulsion of Israel’s army.

External and Internal War

While hand-to-hand combat against the invaders rages in the south, the Lebanese government is expressing its willingness to negotiate and recognize, for the first time in history, the existence of the State of Israel. It has gone so far as to withdraw its army from the south of the country to facilitate the Israeli army’s incursion. Its priority has become its sectarian conflict with Hezbollah, which it seeks to defeat and disarm, rather than defend the country from the Zionist invasion.

In turn, Hezbollah, despite its heroism, is incapable, due to its sectarian ideology and its subordination to the interests of Iran, even above those of the Lebanese people, of uniting the majority of the population behind its project and leading a process of national liberation.

This makes it more necessary than ever to help build a revolutionary political alternative, one that can unite the exploited and oppressed masses behind a non-sectarian strategy, one that fights to defeat Zionism and at the same time definitively liberate the country from the semi-colonial subjugation and plunder it suffers at the hands of many imperialist powers. To achieve this, it is necessary to wrest power from the multiple expressions of the Lebanese bourgeoisie and establish a government of the workers and the poor.

This perspective can only be carried out as part of a international struggle, alongside the other Arab peoples, who face the challenge of ridding themselves of the monarchies and dictatorial governments that are partners of imperialist interests and joining a revolution in the region that establishes a free federation of republics in the Middle East. We believe that only by being socialist can a definitive victory over occupation and imperialism be achieved.

Active solidarity with the Lebanese people

The Lebanese people need us. From the ISL we call for an international campaign in support of their struggle against its invader. And at the same time, we commit to gather and send resources in support of the independent young socialists who, apart from the government and sectarian groups, have been carrying out intense humanitarian work to bring relief to those in need.

Zionist claws out of Lebanon!

For the defeat and expulsion of the Israeli army!

Imperialism out of the Middle East!