As Israel expands its war across the region, Lebanon is once again in the crosshairs. Israeli officials are openly calling for pushing the border to the Litani River, annexing southern Lebanon, and preventing displaced civilians from returning. At the same time, the country is being bombed, depopulated, and pushed toward internal collapse. So what is Israel actually trying to achieve? In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with Karim Makdisi, co-host of the Makdisi Street podcast and Associate Professor of International Politics at the American University of Beirut. They discuss: -Israel’s long-term ambitions in southern Lebanon -Whether this is a plan for annexation or permanent control -Hezbollah’s actual strength after 2024 -Lebanon’s internal divisions and the role of the army -The risk of civil strife and regional escalation This isn’t Israel’s first invasion of Lebanon, but the stakes may be higher than ever.

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