Mon Sep 23 20:26:15 UTC 2024: ## Lebanon’s Double Crisis: Internal Strife Amidst Israeli-Hezbollah Clashes

Amidst escalating tensions with Israel and the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, Lebanon finds itself embroiled in another internal crisis. Retired veterans from various branches of the Lebanese Armed Forces are demanding dignified retirement benefits, highlighting the dire economic situation and the government’s failure to address their plight.

Protests by retired Internal Security Forces (ISF) personnel outside the Lebanese Grand Serail building and the caretaker Prime Minister’s residence forced the postponement of a cabinet session to discuss the 2025 budget. The government’s response, accusing the veterans of attempting a coup, has further inflamed tensions.

Retired ISF personnel, many of whom are struggling to survive on a paltry $250 monthly pension, accuse the government of abandoning them after they served the nation. The economic crisis of 2019, which saw the Lebanese pound plummet against the US dollar, has exacerbated their financial difficulties.

The veterans express frustration at the government’s lack of action to address the crisis and implement reforms that could revive the economy and improve living standards. Their demands for a dignified retirement, coupled with the ongoing conflict with Israel and the internal power struggles, paint a bleak picture for the future of Lebanon.

One retired ISF member, speaking anonymously to The National Interest, stated, “We were the ones who protected them during the war, while they enjoyed life in Monte Carlo, Paris, and France. Upon their return, they climbed on our backs, all of them. We are not ashamed to say that we stand against this failed regime, which is time to change after the past thirty years.”

This internal conflict, coupled with the ongoing regional tensions, underscores the fragility of the Lebanese state and the immense challenges it faces. The government’s failure to address the concerns of its citizens, including retired veterans, risks further destabilizing the country and exacerbating the current crisis.

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