Hezbollah Threatens Assassinations in Lebanon as Unit 121 Warning Shadows Aoun and Salam
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 17
Hezbollah Threatens Assassinations in Lebanon as Unit 121 Warning Shadows Aoun and Salam
4 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 17
Hezbollah could turn to political assassinations as its hold over Lebanon weakens, with rhetoric recently sharpening against President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, according to an ITIC assessment cited by The Jerusalem Post.
New limits on Hezbollah’s legal weapons and military activity, along with Beirut’s participation in talks with Jerusalem in Washington, are described as key pressures driving the threat escalation.
Unit 121 is seen as the likely instrument for a first, symbolic killing aimed at intimidating Beirut; analyst Dror Doron said an initial target would more likely be a mid- to high-level Christian opposition figure or possibly the foreign minister.
May 3 online posts from a Hezbollah-affiliated Telegram channel depicted Aoun as a Zionist collaborator, and Lebanese media said Beirut had already tightened security after reported Israeli warnings last month of an active threat to his life.
The report says Hezbollah fears any diplomatic move toward peace with Israel more than weapons restrictions, framing such normalization as a strategic threat to its core ideology and a possible trigger for further escalation.
As its leadership crumbles, will Hezbollah's next move be political collapse or a wave of assassinations to cling to power?
Can Lebanon’s government disarm a cornered Hezbollah, or will its push for sovereignty trigger another devastating civil war?
Lebanon’s 2026 Crisis: Government Push to Disarm Hezbollah Sparks Internal and Regional Showdown
Overview
In May 2026, Lebanon faces a critical turning point as its government takes an unprecedented stand against Hezbollah, demanding its disarmament and entering direct talks with Israel. This bold move intensifies the long-standing internal power struggle, with the United States brokering a ceasefire and new political negotiations. However, ongoing Israeli attacks on Hezbollah and calls for annexing southern Lebanon complicate diplomacy and increase civilian casualties. Hezbollah, seeing peace efforts as a threat to its core ideology, responds with aggressive warnings, raising the risk of wider conflict. These developments push Lebanon toward a potential tipping point, with severe security and political consequences.