Columnist

Hanin Ghaddar

Hanin Ghaddar is the inaugural Friedmann Visiting Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Latest Articles

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Hezbollah’s Lebanese Allies Can Be Contained

    On August 7, the U.S. embassy in Beirut released a statement calling for “fair and transparent judicial review” in Lebanon, noting that “any attempt to use the tragic June 30 event in [Qabrshmoun] to advance political objectives should be rejected.” Both the statement itself and the incident it...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Hezbollah is Firming up its Grip on Lebanon

    Hezbollah does not seem to be satisfied with the current grip it has on Lebanon. Despite winning the 2008 parliamentary elections and forming a majority government with its allies, Hezbollah still wants it all. They no longer want to tolerate critics or challengers, from the street or from the...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    What Are the Challenges to Iran’s Escalations?

    Tensions with Iran are escalating. The Iranians have staged a number of sabotage attacks on oil tankers earlier this month, and have seized a British vessel. Their proxies – the Houthis - have conducted drone attacks on at least 10 targets including a major Saudi oil pipeline. Although Tehran is...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Does Iran Want a Confrontation?

    Iran has announced on Monday that it has surpassed the limit of low-enriched uranium it could stockpile under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Although it this is technically not a major escalation, its messaging and repercussions could be major....

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    The US-Russia-Israel Summit: Can Russia Push Iran Out of Syria?

    Earlier this month, The White House announced that U.S., Israeli and Russian national security advisers would meet in Jerusalem in June to discuss regional security issues. According to the White House press release, United States National Security Adviser Ambassador John Bolton, Israeli National...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    When Hezbollah Lost its Sacredness

    For Hezbollah to establish itself as the strongest faction in Lebanon, and then transform into a regional arm for Iran, a strategy of popular support had to be carved. The Iranian regime understood that without vast popular support and loyalty, Hezbollah will always be confronted with Lebanon’s...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Will Iran Retaliate to the US’s Extreme Pressure? 

    It is no longer debatable that Iran is hurting from the extreme pressure policy that the Trump administration launched against the Iranian regime and its regional proxies. Right before Washington revoked waivers to Iran’s five remaining oil export markets, the administration declared Iran’s Revo...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Hezbollah-Iran Dynamics: A Proxy, Not a Partner

    As the United States increases sanctions on Iran and its proxies, conventional debates surrounding Hezbollah’s designation as a partner or proxy of Iran have resurfaced in Beirut and Washington. Should Washington consider the group a Lebanese actor or an Iranian military subsidiary?...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Lebanon’s Tough Choice

    US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s warning to Lebanon was controversial, as expected. It came amidst two major events. The night prior to his Beirut trip, US President Donald Trump declared US recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which it captured from...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Hezbollah’s Financial Crisis

    */ Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria has depleted the group’s resources. Salaries increased, services – mainly health services – became in demand more than ever, and more significantly, the community had to suffer more isolation and unemployment challenges. Moreover, the US sanctions on Iran is...

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Opinion

Hezbollah’s Lebanese Allies Can Be Contained
By Hanin Ghaddar
Iranian Oil Smuggling and Naval Piracy Fail to Blunt Sanctions
By Joseph Braude
US-Iran Tensions: From Maximum Pressure to Maximum Leverage?
By Dennis Ross
Iran Goads West into Tightening Containment
By Joseph Braude
Iran Fumes As Washington Launches Counteroffensive
By Joseph Braude
The US-Russia-Israel Summit: Can Russia Push Iran Out of Syria?
By Hanin Ghaddar