The Albanian government said it might investigate the visa status of protesters waving Hezbollah flags during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Sydney and Melbourne over the weekend.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Monday that the government was asking authorities in each states to “check the visa status of anyone who comes to their attention.”

“I will not hesitate to cancel the visas of people who come to our country and spread hate,” Burke said.

In public remarks at the start of Monday’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We saw some worrying signs over the weekend. We don’t want people to bring radical ideologies and conflicts here. Our multiculturalism and social cohesion cannot be taken for granted.”

Opposition spokesman James Paterson said visas for people carrying Hezbollah flags needs to be canceled and deported.

“This is a breach of the Commonwealth Criminal Code,” Paterson said. “Last December, Parliament voted unanimously to amend the Commonwealth Criminal Code to make it an offense to display the Nazi logo or symbol, or the symbol of a listed terrorist organization, including Hezbollah.”

Late Monday, Australian Federal Police said they expected no less than six “crime reports” from Victoria Police allegedly related to banned symbols and chants, that are being investigated by the AFP for potential breaches of anti-terrorism laws.

“The mere public display of a prohibited symbol does not meet the threshold for a Commonwealth offense,” AFP said.

“The Penal Code sets out very detailed elements that have to be met in order to be charged with committing a criminal offense related to a prohibited symbol.

“The prohibited symbol must be displayed in circumstances where the conduct includes: spreading ideas based on racial superiority or hatred; inciting others to insult or intimidate a person; promoting hatred towards another person; an incitement to incite others to insult, intimidate or use force or violence against a person or group on account of his or her race, religion or nationality or is likely to offend, offend or intimidate people on account of a characteristic feature.”

Meanwhile, the government has appointed Aftab Malik, a New South Wales civil servant who has worked to promote social cohesion and counter extremism, as its special envoy to combat Islamophobia.

The announcement comes after a protracted search and long after the appointment of special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal.

Albanese and Burke said in a press release that Malik, who was born in Britain to Pakistani parents, is “recognized as a world expert on Muslim affairs by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.”

He served as a senior advisor to the Abu Dhabi Peace Promotion Forum and as an advisor to the board of the British Council’s “Our Common Future” project based in Washington.

Albanese and Burke said the appointment was part of the government’s strategy “to ensure all Australians feel safe and included”.

Malik will work with members of the Muslim community, experts in religious discrimination and all levels of government in the fight against Islamophobia. His appointment is for 3 years and can report to each Albanese and Burke.

Malik said anti-Semitism and Islamophobia “are not mutually exclusive – where there is one, you will most likely find the other.”

The nomination was immediately criticized by the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN).

APAN said that these envoys “who highlight specific experiences of racism with special government investment and attention have failed to address the increasingly frequent and severe forms of racism experienced by Palestinians – not all of whom are Muslims – First Nations peoples and other marginalized communities.” .

“APAN calls on the federal government to disband both special envoy roles and instead engage in evidence-based, systemic anti-racism efforts that support the entire Australian community in eliminating racism and bigotry.”

What is Hezbollah? And what role does it play in Lebanon?

Hezbollah, which implies “party of God” in Arabic, was born during the Lebanese Civil War following the Israeli invasion and occupation of Lebanon in 1982.

The group was officially established in 1985 with… publication of the manifesto detailed Hezbollah’s goals for the region. The manifesto outlined a plan for replication The Iranian Revolution of 1979 in Lebanon and create a Shiite Islamic state. She pledged allegiance to the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Revolution, Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini, and vowed to fight against the Israeli occupation of Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

The civil war in Lebanon resulted in 1991 with the signing of the “AgreementAgreement with Taif” during which the warring factions agreed that the only way to move forward in Lebanon was through a political and democratic process. As a result, Hezbollah had to develop a political wing, and in 1992 Hezbollah entered the political ring by running in national elections and winning 12 of the 128 seats in parliament.

But while the peace agreement called for the disarmament of militia groups, Hezbollah allowed to maintain its armed wing as a “resistance” group fighting the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon.

Many Lebanese political parties allied cooperate with Hezbollah at this point. While these parties didn’t necessarily share the group’s views or involvement in Iran, they were similarly committed to fighting the Israeli occupation, and the fundamental force on this effort was Hezbollah fighters.

Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon’s parliament and government and its alliance with various political parties have allowed it to manage the country and veto decisions that don’t fit its agenda or serve its interests.

This is very visible in a recurring presidential vacuum in the country.

Since 2005, Lebanon has experienced three presidential lapses: from November 2007 to May 2008, from May 2014 to October 2016, and from October 31, 2023 to the present. Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berriwho’s Shiite and known for his loyalty to Hezbollah, refuses to convene parliament to carry presidential elections unless a candidate is approved by Hezbollah and its allies.

Hezbollah doesn’t only have a political and military wing provides various servicesresembling social welfare, health care, utilities, education and even the safety of his community.

Is it correct to view Hezbollah primarily as a militia supported by Iran?

Yes – Hezbollah is primarily a militia supported by Iran. It exists to serve the Iranian regime and spread its ideology in the region, as outlined in the group’s 1985 manifesto. In 2009, Hezbollah issued the so-called latest manifesto during which it confirmed its involvement in the Shiite Islamic resistance movement led by Tehran.

In terms of financial and military support, in 2016 Nasrallah confirmed: “Hezbollah’s budget, everything it eats and drinks, its weapons and missiles come from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Moreover, with Iran’s support, Hezbollah was capable of create and develop its own illegal financial network through money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

Along with Iran, Syria played a serious role in the rise of Hezbollah. Agreement with Taif called on the Syrian Armed Forces to Lebanon for 2 years to assist establish law and order after greater than a decade of civil war.

However, he remained in Lebanon for over 16 years, and the Syrian government’s closeness to the Iranian regime made Hezbollah a perfect ally. So much in order that when civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Hezbollah emerged as the fundamental actor on this conflict by sending hundreds of Lebanese fighters to Syria to support government efforts to suppress the popular rebellion.

How popular is Hezbollah in Lebanon?

Support for Hezbollah has fluctuated over the years. When Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, many Lebanese celebrated Hezbollah as the country’s liberator.

But others began to insist that Hezbollah achieve this stop military activities and for the Lebanese Armed Forces to take over Hezbollah’s responsibilities in securing Lebanon’s borders.

Moreover, growing anti-Syrian sentiments in Lebanon, v some as a result of serious human rights violationsalso reduced Hezbollah’s popularity as a result of its close ties.

On February 14, 2005 Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafic Hairiknown for his opposition to Hezbollah and Syria, was assassinated. The evidence pointed to this each were involved.

Killing sparked mass anti-government protestsanti-Syrian and anti-Hezbollah protests on the streets of Beirut. Next Cedar Revolution led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon and usually meant a decline in Hezbollah’s popularity.

This decline was visible in the 2005 electionsduring which the anti-Syrian and anti-Hezbollah political coalition won.

Since 2005, a number of events have occurred in Lebanon indicating clear opposition to Hezbollah. Several journalists and political figures were murdered for speaking out against Hezbollah and Syria. Their deaths outraged many Lebanese.

And in 2015 “You stink” the ecological movement was born in protest against political corruption and Hezbollah’s control over waste management.

In 2019an analogous protest movement was born, with Lebanese taking to the streets to precise their frustration with corruption and inflation. Under the slogan “Everything means everything”, the Lebanese protested against all political parties – including Hezbollah.

These events indicate Lebanon’s dissatisfaction with Hezbollah.

AND 2020 survey showed the decline in Hezbollah’s popularity even amongst the Shiite community, which accounts for about one third population.

Polls conducted over nearly a 12 months of hostilities after Hezbollah’s ally Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, suggest that Hezbollah’s influence continues to outpace its popularity. Some Arab Barometer survey on the Lebanese in early 2024 said only 30% trusted Hezbollah, while 55% said they didn’t trust the group in any respect. Although Hezbollah still enjoys the trust of 85% of Shiites, the militia is trusted only by 9% of Sunnis and Druze and 6% of Christians.

What is the structure of Hezbollah?

Originally, Hezbollah’s leadership consisted of a seven-member religious council established in the Nineteen Eighties; it has branches and committees that regulate various matters, including finance, social, political and military issues. This religious council, called the “Shura Council”, has regional offices in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley in the country’s eastern region, and southern Lebanon.

At the end of the Lebanese Civil War, two more bodies were added: an executive council and a politburo, or central political body. The religious council was chaired by Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Fadlallahwho provided religious guidance to the Shiite community and was often described as the spiritual leader of Hezbollah.

Both the Council and Hezbollah pledge allegiance to the Supreme Leader of Iran. The council can be tasked with electing the Secretary General of Hezbollah.

After the Israeli assassination of the co-founder of Hezbollah Abbas al-Musawiin 1992, Hassan Nasrallah assumed this role and remained Secretary General until his death in Beirut during the current Israeli campaign.

What impact will Nasrallah’s death have on Hezbollah operations?

Attacks on Hezbollah pagers and other wireless devices They were intended primarily to cause chaos and interrupt communication between various commanders and units.

The assassinations of Hezbollah commanders are aimed toward removing key decision-makers. The death of Secretary General Nasrallah is a decisive blow to a gaggle already vulnerable in consequence of last week’s attacks. The goal is to demoralize the fighters.

Moreover, these attacks send a transparent message that Israel will not accept tit-for-tat attacks on its northern border.

However, Israel will not necessarily achieve the desired result.

After Israel murdered Abbas al-Musawi, his wife and son, only his death occurred confirmed Hezbollah’s involvement in its mission. Nasrallah followed in Al-Musawi’s footsteps and under his leadership the group has increased its recruitmentarsenal and reach Lebanon and beyond.

The situation is currently fluid and it’s difficult to predict what will occur next. However, a brand new wave of violence can only strengthen Hezbollah’s resolve.

Moreover, there could also be greater involvement in the region by other Hezbollah-linked players resembling Houthis in Yemen and Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq.

After the announcement of Nasrallah’s death Supreme Leader of Iran Khamenei threatened Israel and promised more support for Hezbollah in Lebanon.

For almost a yr, Israel and Hezbollah have been conducting operations increasingly provocative cross-border skirmishes as observers warn that this escalating war of attrition may lead the region to total conflictThe previous few days have brought this devastating scenario closer to reality.

Israel got here first pager and walkie-talkie attackan unprecedented attack on Hezbollah communications, during which 1000’s of the organization’s activists suffered. This was followed by the murder of Ibrahim Aqila key Hezbollah leader who was killed in an airstrike that also killed other senior commanders of the militant group, in addition to some civilians. Hezbollah responded by expanding geographical scope Rockets fired at Israel hit each military facilities and civilian districts north and east of Haifa.

As a scholar from Lebanon and IsraelI even have been following the dynamics of this war of attrition since October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas launched an unprecedented and deadly attack on Israel, which responded by bombing the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah then began firing rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Despite the high rhetoric and mutual threats destructionUntil recently, neither Israel nor Hezbollah nor the latter’s sponsor, Iran, have shown any interest in a full-scale war. All sides surely know the likely devastating consequences of such an eventuality for themselves: Israel has the military power to devastate Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, because it did in Gaza, while even a weakened Hezbollah could fire 1000’s of missiles at strategic locations in Israel, from the airport to central Tel Aviv, water supply lines and power hubs, and offshore gas platforms.

Instead, there was an exchange of fireside and blows along the shared border, with some red lines established regarding the geographic scope of attacks and efforts made to not deliberately goal civilians.

However, Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon could turn this war of attrition into a brand new and far more severe situation, putting the region on the brink of a full-blown war. Such a war would wreak havoc in Lebanon and Israel, and will also draw Iran and the United States into a direct confrontation. In this manner, too fulfill the apparent Hamas fighters who about 1,200 Israelis were murdered on October 7, hoping that Israel’s decisive response will attract more groups from across the region.

A dangerous “new phase”

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah has insisted throughout the nearly year-long war that his organization would stop fire provided that a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas. But in recent weeks, Israel has taken the conflict in the other way.

The country’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, described coordinated attacks on Hezbollah targets as a “new phase,” adding that the “center of gravity” of the war was shifting north to Lebanon. The Israeli government added the “safe return of northerners to their homes” as additional war goal.

The attack on Hezbollah’s communication system was aimed toward agents of that organization, but hit many civilian passers-byleaving the Lebanese people in shock, trauma, anger and despair.

It showed Israel’s tactical military advantage over Hezbollah. An unprecedented penetration into the depths of the organization’s command and rank-and-file structures has never happened in any conflict or war in the world. It hit Hezbollah in its most vulnerable places and even revealed its cooperation with Iran – certainly one of the people injured in the explosion of pagers he was the ambassador of Iran in Lebanon.

This the murder of Akil two days later, there was one other sign that the Israeli government had now decided to try to alter the rules of this dangerous game of retaliation and counter-retaliation. It is clear that as a substitute of the uneasy establishment that has defined this war of attrition for almost a yr, Israel’s intention now is to pressure Hezbollah into admitting defeat.

Getting uncontrolled

Nasrallah delivered gloomy and rebellious speech after the pager attack. While admitting that Hezbollah had been severely weakened by the operation, he defined the Israeli attack as a continuation of “many other massacres carried out by the enemy over decades.”

This is how he put it in the popular historical narrative amongst many Lebanese and Palestinians who perceive Israel as a criminal entity who recurrently massacres innocent civilians.

Nasrallah also stressed that his unwavering commitment to supporting Hamas in the Gaza Strip stays unwavering.

Stating that Israel’s actions have “I crossed all the red lines“and will mean a declaration of war, Nasrallah also reiterated what he has said at previous summits on this ongoing conflict: that retaliation is coming, and the only query is timing and scale. In doing so, Nasrallah suggested that he should not be thinking about a full-blown war.

Israel, on the other hand, seems less cautious. After almost a full yr of subdued tensions with Hezbollah, Israeli leaders seem willing to risk an escalation that would spiral uncontrolled.

It is difficult to find out what strategy lies behind Israel’s actions: since October 7, when The Biden administration has noticedIsrael has not presented a coherent strategy with clear political goals.

Critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, argue that he is guided mainly by the desire for his own political survival and maintaining power as head of state, linking Israel’s interests with his own.

Uniting the “axis of resistance”

Where does this leave Nasrallah as he considers Hezbollah’s response, presumably in consultation with Iran? After such devastating blows to Nasrallah’s organization, it is hard to imagine that Hezbollah would be willing to reduce, stop cross-border attacks, and withdraw from the Israeli border, or abandon its commitment to supporting Hamas in Gaza.

On the other hand, the decision to launch a full-scale war after a yr of avoiding it is fraught with great risk – each Nasrallah and his sponsors in Tehran are well aware of the high costs of such a war for Hezbollah, Lebanon and potentially Iran.

If Hezbollah were to go to war with Israel now, it would be making its most significant move since Founded in 1982But it would accomplish that with crippled communications systems and without much of its leadership – a few of whom had worked side by side with Nasrallah for many years, constructing the organization’s military capabilities with him.

In some ways, Israelis under Netanyahu’s leadership, in addition to the Lebanese, who’ve increasingly turn out to be hostages to Hezbollah’s interests at home, face similar problems: their well-being is being sacrificed for other priorities.

Netanyahu recent statements concerns about Israeli residents in the north ring hole after 11 months of policies that put them in even greater danger, and opposing the Gaza ceasefire agreement which would also put an end to hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah has dragged the country into this war against the will of the majority of Lebanese people – a choice that led to significant destruction in parts of the country that were already struggling with serious political and economic problems.

Nasrallah’s speech described Hezbollah’s plight as the plight of all of Lebanon – while sending a veiled threat that dissent would not be tolerated. Many Lebanese undoubtedly sympathize with the Palestinian cause and detest Israel’s war in Gaza. But at the same time, they might shudder at the thought that their very own well-being would must be sacrificed in the process.

In the meantime, Yahya Sinwar, The leader and brain of Hamas behind the October 7 massacre, can look with satisfaction at the unfolding events between Israel and Hezbollah. His plan is designed to impress a unification of all fronts of the so-called “resistance axis,” which incorporates the Houthis in Yemen, in addition to Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, with the hope of a regional war with Israel.

A yr later, we’re closer to this scenario than ever.