Lebanon is a boiling cauldron as Hezbollah controls the tactical field situation on the southern border with Israel.
While the country is collapsing economically and politically, Hezbollah is strengthening itself with a sponsor, the Islamic Republic of Iran. Lebanon has become a dysfunctional state, and if it is dragged into war the situation will get worse.
Lebanon's caretaker government is struggling to maintain legitimacy while citizens face economic impoverishment.
Institutions are almost non-existent while local power is essentially controlled by those with guns and money.
The Iranian-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah is an entrenched Shia political force that pulls the strings of Lebanese politics and blocks the creation of stable institutions, preventing power-sharing based on religious identities.
Hezbollah, after the 2006 war, has strengthened to become the largest non-state armed force in the world, and is a regional actor playing an important role in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. It is a more difficult opponent for Israel compared to Hamas as it has the support of Iran, from which it supplies missiles.
Lebanese citizens are living their own anxiety as they await the extent of Israel's response which will be a "barometer" of whether their country will be plunged into a devastating war, the consequences of which will spread beyond Lebanon's borders.
The tension on the Israel-Lebanon front is de-escalating
After extreme tension in the Middle East, with Israel promising severe punishment to Hezbollah for the bloody strike on the Golan Heights that killed children, the situation appears to be de-escalating.
International pressure for restraint, mainly from Washington, appears to be paying off, and the Israeli military's retaliation has been limited for now to airstrikes and pounding Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
The international community is anxiously awaiting Israel's response to Hezbollah's deadly strike on the Golan Heights that resulted in the death of 12 children and teenagers of the Druze Arab community.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the site of the attack, promised a "stern response" to the group.
Netanyahu threatens 'harsh response' to Golan bombing
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited Majdal Shams yesterday, vowed a "tough response" after the bombing that killed 12 young people in the town in the annexed Golan Heights.
"These children are our children. The State of Israel will not, and cannot, let this pass. Our response will come and it will be harsh," Netanyahu said.
According to the Israeli military, the missile was launched from Lebanon by the Islamist group Hezbollah, which however denies any involvement in the strike.
White House: Wider Israel-Hezbollah war can be avoided
The White House said it was "confident" that a wider war between Israel and Hezbollah could be averted after Saturday's attack in the Golan Heights that killed 12 youths.
"No one wants a wider war, and I am confident that we will be able to avoid such a development," said John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council.
“Although we have all heard talk of this all-out war repeatedly over the past ten months, these predictions have been exaggerated. Frankly, we continue to believe that they are excessive today," he added.
Lebanon is empty of foreign nationals - Travel instructions for citizens
There are many countries that recommend their citizens to leave Lebanon.
Britain advised its citizens to leave Lebanon yesterday as efforts to prevent an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah following the deadly attack on the occupied Golan are intensified.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement regarding the avoidance of visits to Israel, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Iran.
"We are reminded of the relevant announcements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with which it is recommended to avoid visits to Lebanon, except for those that are absolutely necessary, as well as the departure of visitors from the country," reads the latest announcement.
Germany did the same, calling on its citizens to leave the country.
It should be noted that flights to and from Beirut have been suspended. Air France and its subsidiary, Transavia France, suspended their flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Beirut yesterday and today.
The airlines Lufthansa, Swiss and Eurowings, of the German Lufthansa group, are also suspending their flights to and from the capital of Lebanon until August 5 due to the developments in the Middle East, as announced by a representative of the group.
Cyprus is ready
The Cypriot foreign minister said the country is on standby to help evacuate civilians from the Middle East if the standoff between Israel and Hezbollah escalates in Lebanon.
The Cypriot authorities have been operating an emergency response mechanism for the possible evacuation of civilians since last October, Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos told reporters.
"We have determined the way the system will work if necessary," he said.
"We all hope it won't be necessary, but if that doesn't happen, Cyprus will continue to act as a safety bridge to facilitate the withdrawal of civilians from any war zone in our region," he added.
Cyprus was used to remove thousands of foreign nationals from Lebanon in 2006 during the resurgence of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. It was also used as a staging post by Britain to evacuate British and dual nationals from Sudan last year.
Source: iefimerida.gr