Lebanon
Lebanon is a country with one of the richest and most diverse histories in the world, and continues to stand as a testament to the resilience of its people. Since the country’s independence in 1943, it has served as a refuge for various religious and ethnic groups. But, despite its high literacy rate and commercial activity, Lebanon has long struggled with internal and external conflicts that have shaped its modern identity (WHO data and countrymeters).
Historical and Political Context
Lebanon’s geographic location has often left it vulnerable to invasion and political turmoil. Prior to the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990, the country was host to various religious and ethnic communities living relatively peacefully. However, growing sectarian tensions, external interventions, and the weakening of state authority under President Suleiman Franjieh led to a devastating conflict that officially began on April 13, 1975 (Masters, 2025). The war fragmented Lebanese society, dividing Beirut along sectarian lines and drawing in regional and global powers. Israel’s 1982 invasion further destabilized the region, ultimately giving rise to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shi’a militia. The war culminated in the 1989 Taif Accord, which restructured Lebanon’s political system and reaffirmed its independence, but the scars of conflict persist today (Masters, 2025).
Lebanon's government, a democracy shaped by religious affiliation, was established following independence from France during World War II. The political structure guarantees leadership roles to the country’s three major religious groups: a Maronite Christian president, a Sunni Muslim prime minister, and a Shi’a speaker of parliament. However, this sectarian-driven governance has led to persistent political gridlock (Masters, 2025). Since 2022, Lebanon has been politically paralyzed, with its parliamentary elections failing to produce a majority coalition.
For the past two decades, two major political coalitions have vied for power: the March 8 coalition, which supports closer ties with Syria and Iran, and the March 14 coalition, which favors stronger relations with the U.S., France, and Saudi Arabia. The influence of foreign actors, including Iran, Syria, Israel, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and France, continues to shape Lebanon’s fragile political landscape (Masters, 2025).
The Role of Hezbollah and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
Hezbollah, founded in response to Israel’s 1982 invasion, has evolved into a major political and military force in Lebanon. Though designated as a terrorist organization by some states, Hezbollah also oversees extensive social services, maintaining strong public support. Since 2005, it has been part of the March 8 coalition, with representatives in the Lebanese government overseeing various portfolios (Master, 2025 and Britannica).
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Lebanon’s national military, plays a crucial role in maintaining domestic security. However, compared to Hezbollah, the LAF lacks resources and political influence. With approximately 80,000 personnel, the LAF is seen as a stabilizing force, receiving significant military aid from the U.S. Since the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the LAF has been tasked with deploying 10,000 soldiers to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon and facilitate the return of displaced populations (Masters, 2025, and Britannica).
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
UNIFIL, a peacekeeping force established in 1978, has played a critical role in monitoring Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. Following Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah, UNIFIL’s mandate was expanded to help secure a demilitarized zone. However, its effectiveness is often hindered by operational restrictions, with peacekeepers only permitted to use force in self-defense. During Israel’s 2024 invasion of southern Lebanon, UNIFIL suffered significant casualties, with 338 peacekeepers losing their lives (Masters, 2025, and Britannica) .
Foreign Intervention
Foreign powers have also played a defining role in shaping conflict within Lebanon as each party is acting in their own state interests, further complicating and prolonging the violence. Iran continues to support Hezbollah and hopes to enact pro-Iran policies, while also opposing Israeli intervention. Syria, like Lebanon, was formerly a part of the Ottoman Empire, and because of this history, many of its leaders view Lebanon as lost territory. As a result, Syria has intervened in Lebanese affairs like the Civil War (Master, 2025, and Britannica). Lebanon was also a part of the Arab states that attacked Israel after its founding, which in and of itself resulted in the displacement of 700,000 Palestinans, 100,000 of which went to Lebanon (Britannica). With time, Lebanon became a place for Palestinian resistance, but also a target of Israeli aggression as Israel began conducting military operations in Lebanon. France also continues to play a role as it shaped Lebanon’s sectarian-driven politics. The United States is the primary backer of the LAF, who the U.S. believes will be a critical guarantor of Lebanon’s sovereignty and a counterweight to Hezbollah. In practice, this translates through 3 billion dollars in military aid (Master, 2025).
Humanitarian Crisis and Civilian Struggles
Lebanon’s ongoing humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by recent conflicts. Since October 2023, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged fire across the border, with conflict especially escalating after Israel launched coordinated pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Beirut on September 18th and 19th (Oxfam, 2024). Israel launched a full-scale military assault in September 2024. The violence has displaced over 1.2 million people, including more than 112,000 in the months prior to the war (What’s Happening in Lebanon, 2024). Among the displaced, children account for over a third of the proportion, facing dire conditions in makeshift shelters. In Al-Merouaniya, dozens of families are sheltering in an abandoned hotel (What’s Happening in Lebanon, 2024).
Lebanon’s pre-existing economic and humanitarian crises have only worsened. Even before the recent escalation, two out of three people in Lebanon were living in poverty, and the country’s healthcare system was on the brink of collapse (UNICEF). The war has forced the closure of 27 health facilities in southern Lebanon, leaving over 10,000 people, including 4,000 children, without access to essential medical care, including maternal and child health services (UNICEF). Over 16,000 children under 5, 17,000 adolescent girls, and 10,000 women live in areas where primarily health care centers have closed (UNICEF). Refugees face harsher barriers because they are also at risk of deportation. Thousands are facing trauma from losing their homes and families, resulting in a severe decline in mental health as depicted through the increase in depression and anxiety disorders (Growing Up Without and Education”, 2016).
The crisis has taken a severe toll on Lebanon’s education system. More than 700,000 children were already out of school before October 2023, and recent conflicts have resulted in the partial or total closure of an additional 72 schools, leaving tens of thousands more without access to education (UNICEF) And, over half of the schools that are left, have been converted into shelters. The lack of schooling has led to a rise in child labor and early marriages, particularly among vulnerable groups such as girls and children with disabilities (UNICEF).
Water has also proven to be a commodity in high demand. Nine water facilities have been damaged or destroyed with over 100,000 people without safe water to drink (UNICEF).
The Future of Lebanon
Lebanon’s path forward remains uncertain. The country continues to struggle with economic collapse, political paralysis, and the repercussions of foreign interventions. The 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war and the resulting ceasefire agreement set the stage for some recovery, but the presence of armed groups, external influence, and unresolved sectarian tensions pose significant challenges.
Despite these hardships, Lebanon’s people have demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. Whether through grassroots humanitarian efforts, calls for political reform, or international mediation, the Lebanese people continue to fight for a more stable and prosperous future. The world must not turn a blind eye to their struggle. Lebanon's recovery requires sustained global attention, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic efforts to foster peace in the region. UnitedForOthers hopes to draw more attention to the ongoing events in Lebanon, and will work hard to support the innocent people and kids.
If you would like to find our more about what’s going on in Lebanon, we strongly encourage you to do your own research, but also refer to this list of references we used to help write our blog post:
Avenue, Human Rights Watch | 350 Fifth, et al. ““Growing up without an Education” | Barriers to Education for Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon.” Human Rights Watch, 19 July 2016, www.hrw.org/report/2016/07/19/growing-without-education/barriers-education-syrian-refugee-children-lebanon.
“CHILDREN at RISK and TERRIFIED as CONFLICT ESCALATES in LEBANON.” Save the Children International, 2024, www.savethechildren.net/news/children-risk-and-terrified-conflict-escalates-lebanon.
“Children in Lebanon Are Paying the Price of 6 Months of Increasing Conflict.” UNICEF USA, 2024, www.unicefusa.org/stories/children-lebanon-are-paying-price-6-months-increasing-conflict.
“Children in Lebanon Pay Heavy Price amid Intensifying Conflict in the South and Compounding National Crises.” Www.unicef.org, www.unicef.org/press-releases/children-lebanon-pay-heavy-price-amid-intensifying-conflict-south-and-compounding.
“Children of Lebanon.” Humanium, www.humanium.org/en/lebanon/.
“Education Disrupted for Sixth Year for 1.5 Million Children in Lebanon, with Half of Public Schools Used as Shelters.” Save the Children International, 2024, www.savethechildren.net/news/education-disrupted-sixth-year-15-million-children-lebanon-half-public-schools-used-shelters.
Four Digits. ““When I Feel Frustrated, I Write a Story - That’s How I Let off Steam.”” Warchild.net, War Child, 2021, www.warchild.net/country-lebanon/. Accessed 1 May 2025.
“General Information on Lebanon.” SOS Children’s Villages, 2017, www.sos-childrensvillages.org/where-we-help/asia/lebanon. Accessed 1 May 2025.
“Lebanon Data | World Health Organization.” Data.who.int, data.who.int/countries/422.
“Lebanon Population (2021) Live — Countrymeters.” Countrymeters.info, countrymeters.info/en/Lebanon.
Macksoud, M. S., and J. L. Aber. “The War Experiences and Psychosocial Development of Children in Lebanon.” Child Development, vol. 67, no. 1, 1 Feb. 1996, pp. 70–88, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8605835/.
Masters, Jonathan . “Lebanon: How Israel, Hezbollah, and Regional Powers Are Shaping Its Future.” Council on Foreign Relations, 2024, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/lebanon-how-israel-hezbollah-and-regional-powers-are-shaping-its-future.
News, Vatican. “Lebanon: Number of Children Killed in Israeli Strikes Soars.” Vaticannews.va, Vatican News, 4 Oct. 2024, www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2024-10/unicef-children-dead-injured-displaced-lebanon-appeal-ceasefire.html. Accessed 1 May 2025.
Obeid, Rita, and Sabine Saade. “An Urgent Call for Action: Lebanon’s Children Are Falling through the Cracks after Economic Collapse and a Destructive Blast.” Global Mental Health, 7 Apr. 2022, pp. 1–4, https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2022.14.
“The Situation in Lebanon.” Wvi.org, 2017, www.wvi.org/situation-lebanon. Accessed 1 May 2025.
“UNICEF: Risks Increasing for Children in Lebanon as Bombardment Continues, Essential Services Falter.” UNICEF USA, 2022, www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-risks-increasing-children-lebanon-bombardment-continues-essential-services-falter.
“What Is Happening in Lebanon?” Oxfamamerica.org, 4 Oct. 2024, www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/emergencies/lebanon-appeal/what-is-happening-in-lebanon/.
“What’s Happening in Lebanon?” Doctors without Borders - USA, 2024, www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/whats-happening-lebanon.
