Lebanon’s Liberation and Recovery are Hindered by a Pathological Attachment to Hezbollah

By Daniel Kahwaji

In psychology, attachment patterns are typically classified into several types: secure, anxious, and avoidant. Yet, a fourth type merits closer attention — pathological or irrational attachment.

This form of emotional dependency arises when an individual clings to a person or entity they perceive as powerful or essential, even when reality proves otherwise. Rooted in fear and illusion, it reflects an anxiety over losing something that, in truth, is unworthy of such commitment. Though letting go is possible, the individual becomes trapped in a cycle of imagined need and psychological paralysis.

This behavior extends beyond personal relationships and into political dynamics, where some actors remain attached to entities that have lost their actual power but continue to loom large due to residual fears. In such cases, a weakened force is transformed into an exaggerated threat—much like Don Quixote battling windmills, believing them to be towering giants.

This metaphor is painfully relevant to the Lebanese political landscape. The Lebanese state appears shackled by a pathological attachment to Hezbollah, continuing to view it as an indomitable force despite mounting evidence to the contrary. The group emerged from the recent war significantly weakened: its infrastructure was damaged, and its financial and military capacities greatly diminished. Meanwhile, Syria — once a critical conduit for Hezbollah’s weapons and funding — has begun realigning with Saudi and American interests amid massive reconstruction efforts. Exhausted and overstretched, Hezbollah is now incapable, alongside the state, of rebuilding what has been destroyed.

From a military perspective, the group’s weakened position makes a repeat of events such as 7 May highly unlikely. Nevertheless, Lebanese authorities continue to appease this “armed illusion,” legitimizing it in official rhetoric while making empty promises of reform. It is as if the state fears Hezbollah’s shadow more than its actual, diminished presence.

This dynamic was laid bare during the Riyadh Summit, where US President Donald Trump described the gathering as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for Lebanon to rise and reclaim its prosperity. Yet, Lebanon was not officially invited — a clear message that the international community has little interest in supporting a state that remains tethered to a non-state militia operating outside the framework of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701.

In light of this, it is clear that Lebanon’s pathological attachment to Hezbollah has become a major obstacle to its recovery and liberation. Instead of capitalizing on opportunities for renewal, the state remains fixated on a fading illusion of strength, sacrificing its future in service to a worn-out actor no longer capable of setting the national agenda.

It is time for Lebanon’s President and Prime Minister to cast off the mantle of fear. The country must no longer be sacrificed at the altar of a declining force. As the world opens its doors to those bold enough to pursue genuine reform and renewal, Lebanon risks being left behind — chained to outdated loyalties, unable to chart a course toward prosperity and life.

Daniel Kahwaji (15) is a rising young Syriac voice and the grandson of martyred journalist Mustafa Jeha.