Without the logistical support provided by Syria, the Islamic republic of Iran, which was instrumental in the formation of Hezbollah, would not be able to provide political support, economic largesse, military supplies and above all ideological fervour. Hezbollah’s serving the interest of these two countries puts it at variance with the interests of the rest of the Arab world, which sees the current crisis as an unnecessary, avoidable and costly “adventure.”

Likewise, Hezbollah also served the interest of the Islamic Republic and its periodic rhetoric vis-a-vis the Jewish state and the militant group enables Iran to overcome the geographic constraints and reach the borders of Israel. Their shared animosity towards the peace process enabled both to work in tandem.

Above all, the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah took place on 12th July, the deadline set by the international community for the Iranian acceptance of the multilateral proposal for the nuclear standoff. Since then the crisis along the Israel-Lebanese border, and not Iran’s suspected nuclear ambitions, has dominated the international agenda. Even the meeting of G8 leaders in St. Petersburg that was supposed to evolve a consensus stand vis-a-vis Iran was hijacked by the new crisis.

Far from being under pressure from the international community over the nuclear question, Iran seeks to consolidate its interest by playing up its Hezbollah card.

While the international community, including Saudi Arabia and the Arab League, blames the Hezbollah for its precipitating the current crisis, it is no accident that only Iran and Syria support the Hezbollah for its “misadventure.”

... contd.