East Beirut's Christian neighborhoods, mostly controlled by the right-wing Kataeb and Lebanese Forces parties, which have always been hostile to Hezbollah, are starting to display more and more banners. The unavoidable rebalancing of forces that is taking place in the region is having an effect within the country and on the rest of the active political groups. Up to this point, the changes have been peaceful.

However, there is a growing restless energy, and finding a solution to the long-term impasse on the presidency would be crucial. The post of president of the Republic, who is usually from one of the various Christian groups, has been left unfilled for two years. The last one, Michel Aoun, based his presidency on an underlying alliance with Hezbollah, openly going against the rest of the Christians.

The country is now ruled by an interim government which is very limited in what it can do. Deciding on a new president would certainly mean taking a clear stand. Once again, the name of General Joseph Aoun is doing the rounds (a cousin of the former president, but not aligned with him), the head of the Lebanese army, which is almost entirely funded by the United States.

Israel “will not allow Hezbollah to settle itself in these places [in southern Lebanon] in the future,” said Army General Herzi Halevi on Thursday evening. This was a very consequential statement, which points to the possibility of extending the conflict until this new objective is........

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