While Hezbollah loses ground against Israel: the new and dangerous star of the Iranian axis

A Lebanese analysis published in Ma'ariv examines the shift in power dynamics in the Middle East: Hezbollah, despite its military strength, has become a political burden and its room for maneuver has shrunk. In contrast, the Houthis in Yemen are playing an increasingly offensive role in the maritime arena against Saudi Arabia and global trade, and are receiving greater weight from Iran in the regional setup.

A Lebanese analysis published in Ma'ariv examines the change in the balance of power in the Middle East following the war. According to the analysis, Hezbollah remains the strongest and most significant organization in the Levantine arena in terms of proximity to Israel, military depth, and political influence, but its operational capability is now more limited than before. The battle at the Ali Taher ridge is presented as an example: Israel struck infrastructure and tunnels and re-established its 'security zone' in southern Lebanon. The analysis argues that military force alone is insufficient when its use comes at a cost to the civilian and political environment. In contrast, the Houthis in Yemen operate in a space without a central government, and their local rivals are fragmented. Their control of Mokha, Dhubab, and Perim Island brings them closer to Bab el-Mandeb, a global chokepoint. The US refrains from broad ground intervention against them and limits itself to intelligence support. The central claim: the Houthis are not replacing Hezbollah, but their offensive role in the Iranian array is growing, while Lebanon is becoming a defensive arena for an existing asset.