Hezbollah Beyond State Control: Lebanon E Deputy PM Akar | Exclusive

Published 10 June 2026 · india

Hezbollah Beyond State Control: Lebanon E Deputy PM Akar | Exclusive Reported By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 17:35 IST Zeina Akar Adra says Israel

Hezbollah Beyond State Control: Lebanon E Deputy PM Akar | Exclusive Reported By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 17:35 IST Zeina Akar Adra says Israel has weakened Hezbollah militarily, but remains embedded in Lebanon’s reality, adding that US is not a neutral broker Rapid Read Zeina Akar Adra. (X) Israel’s latest strikes in southern Lebanon have once again pushed the region to the brink, with Iran retaliating soon after, raising fresh fears of a wider war. What was already a fragile ceasefire now looks increasingly meaningless on the ground. Even within Washington’s closest alliances, cracks are beginning to show, with US President Donald Trump reportedly calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “crazy" in a recent phone call, pointing to growing frustration over how far this escalation could go. To better understand how Beirut is viewing this rapidly escalating situation, CNN-News18 spoke to Lebanon’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Zeina Akar Adra, who didn’t shy away from addressing the central fault line: Hezbollah. “The state’s ability to control Hezbollah has historically been limited," she says, underscoring the uncomfortable reality at the heart of Lebanon’s crisis. She also reflects a broader sentiment in the country that the US is “not a neutral broker", with many believing Washington has tilted towards Israel. Adra further speaks about India’s role, describing it as “respected", while calling for stronger backing for ceasefire enforcement, civilian protection, and Lebanon’s sovereignty. Right now, is Lebanon at war or in a ceasefire that no one is respecting? Lebanon is not officially at war, but it is difficult to describe the current situation as a genuine or fully respected ceasefire. While an agreement may exist on paper, repeated violations by Israel, ongoing military operations, and continued attacks in southern Lebanon have severely undermined its credibility. For many Lebanese, especially those in the South, the reality feels closer to an ongoing conflict than a stable ceasefire. Entire villages have been destroyed or heavily damaged, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence. The casualties include children, women, students, humanitarian workers, Civil Defence personnel, Red Cross volunteers, and members of the Lebanese Armed Forces. As a result, the situation is widely seen not as a functioning ceasefire, but as an unresolved conflict that persists despite formal agreements and diplomatic efforts. What is the future of the truce talks now, with the US and Israel at loggerheads and US–Iran relations still strained? And which capital has the greatest leverage over ending this conflict today: Washington, Tehran, or Tel Aviv? The future of the truce talks remains uncertain, as the conflict is deeply tied to broader regional dynamics involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. As long as tensions between Washington and Tehran persist, any progress is likely to remain slow and fragile. In terms of leverage, Washington continues to be the key external actor given its political, military, and diplomatic influence, as well as its ability to shape decisions in Israel and across the region.