The absence of the regular Lebanese army in the current crisis raises questions about state institutions' capacity to confront a major conflict.
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00:00As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates in Lebanon, many Western diplomats
00:08are questioning Lebanon's army and the role it may have to play.
00:15Lebanon's army is subject to the instructions of the Lebanese government and historically
00:19has deep internal divisions.
00:21The Lebanese army is subject to the instructions of the Lebanese government.
00:30At the Lebanese government level, for the moment and for a long time, there are extreme
00:35divisions.
00:36It is delivered to itself and in this case, it makes decisions that it finds suitable
00:43itself, regardless of the command of the army, regardless of the commander-in-chief of the
00:46army.
00:49Lebanon's regular army stands in contrast to Hezbollah, who are a legitimate political
00:54force and have insufficient weaponry.
00:57To do it with Hezbollah is immediately a civil war and it is a problem at the governmental
01:06level.
01:07There is a maneuver that is acquired by the command of the army that judges it necessary
01:18to prevail internal stability on a war that could last between the army itself and Hezbollah.
01:29During the Lebanese war of 2006, Lebanon's regular army avoided any confrontation with
01:34the IDF, despite it bombing some of its military bases.
01:39This led to a disengagement of the units of the regular army, leaving the Beqaa valley
01:46uncovered or leaving it as a confrontation ground between Israel and Hezbollah.
01:53Scenario number two, here possible but more improbable, a reinforcement of military units,
02:00not so much to counteract a military presence or to give support to Israel in the fight
02:09against Hezbollah, but to carry out an exit function.