Fatima al-Ashkar, a 26-year-old widow from Markaba in southern Lebanon, lost her husband, Mohammed Ali, a Hezbollah fighter, during clashes with Israel earlier this year. Following his death, Hezbollah’s extensive social welfare network provided Ashkar with housing, financial support for her children’s education, healthcare coverage, and psychological services. For Ashkar and many like her in south Lebanon, Hezbollah’s support system has become a primary source of assistance, particularly as the Lebanese state struggles to meet the needs of its citizens in the wake of ongoing conflict and political instability.

The Lebanese government is currently facing significant challenges in reasserting its authority across the country, where deep divisions persist amid recurring hostilities with Israel. Beyond efforts to disarm Hezbollah—a key demand from the United States and Israel—the state must also contend with Hezbollah’s entrenched social services network, which commands loyalty from many of its constituents. This network has bolstered Hezbollah’s position in a region continuing to experience Israeli occupation, attacks, and frequent military incursions.

The most recent conflict has intensified divisions within Lebanon. Hezbollah supporters criticize the Lebanese government for engaging in direct negotiations with Israel and failing to adequately respond to Israeli attacks. Conversely, opponents of Hezbollah accuse the organization of provoking the outbreak of hostilities when it launched rockets toward Israel on March 2, prompting Israeli military operations and occupation in parts of southern Lebanon.

For residents like Ashkar, state institutions offer little reassurance. Her home was destroyed during a brief ceasefire period, and her village endured Israeli occupation until 2000. “Honestly, I don’t care about the state,” she said, expressing disillusionment with attempts by the government to assert control or offer protection. Meanwhile, others, such as Mustapha Hamze, a 66-year-old doctor from near Nabatieh, believe that a stronger state presence could change the situation. Hamze, who has been unable to return to his home due to security concerns and Israeli drone strikes, criticizes both Israel and Hezbollah for perpetuating conflict. Yet he remains skeptical of the Lebanese government’s capacity to safeguard citizens’ rights, highlighting his unsuccessful attempts to secure safe passage through the Lebanese army.

Lebanese officials acknowledge the complex task of winning back the trust of communities long aligned with Hezbollah. A senior security official noted that this effort requires a comprehensive government approach addressing cultural inclusion, political representation, and security. The government is currently implementing a pilot program in three zones recently reclaimed from Israeli occupation, where the Lebanese army—rather than Hezbollah-affiliated entities—leads reconstruction efforts on roads and infrastructure. Officials hope this strategy will increase the visibility and legitimacy of the state and reduce reliance on Hezbollah.

However, persistent Israeli shelling undermines these efforts. In a recent incident, Israeli forces destroyed a municipal building, a school, and a clinic near one of the pilot zones in eastern Zawtar, demonstrating the state’s limited capacity to prevent or respond to such attacks. Financial constraints also limit the government’s ability to match Hezbollah’s social services network.

Lebanese officials emphasize the need for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon as a prerequisite for restoring state legitimacy and reducing Hezbollah’s influence. The security official expressed caution about appearing to replicate the role of the South Lebanese Army, an Israeli-backed proxy that operated in the region until 2000, while seeking to dislodge Hezbollah.

For many in southern Lebanon, however, the state remains a distant and ineffective protector. As Ashkar put it, “Israel calls [the army] on the telephone and tells them: ‘Leave the village,’ so they leave the village. Then there’s nobody left defending it … Sometimes you feel they’re working for the Israelis.” This sentiment underscores the challenges facing Lebanon as it navigates efforts to restore state authority amid ongoing conflict and competing loyalties.