Paper
Paul Salem
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Source: Getty
In The Media
Tehran Rising: Persian Power in an Unstable Region
Hezbollah is a key ally to Iran and a chief player in Tehran's agenda to expand its influence and advance its interests throughout the Middle East.
By Paul Salem
Published on Apr 13, 2011
Source: America Abroad Media
“It is in Iran and Syria’s interest to keep supporting Hezbollah as a very effective armed force, using it as a deterrent against any possible Israeli or U.S. attack,” Salem said. In this proxy war, Iran and Syria both have an interest in undermining the work and findings of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, argued Salem. This international jurisdiction, set up after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005, is expected to indict senior Hezbollah members. Having already warned that anyone who would want to arrest a member of Hezbollah “would have his hand cut off”, the party managed to topple the government in last January in order to allow a new one to publicly reject the tribunal.
“Usually all that Hezbollah needs is to be left alone but this time it felt it needed to gain more influence to actually blunt the tribunal,” Salem concluded.
About the Author
Paul Salem
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute
Paul Salem is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.
- Iraq’s Tangled Foreign Interests and Relations
- Bracing for Impact in SyriaArticle
Paul Salem
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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