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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Partnership Alongside Rivalry: Are Violent Local Clashes Between Amal and Hezbollah Operatives Unusual? |
| 2026-09-09 |
| by Dana Polak September 8, 2026 [IsraelAlma] On September 6, an altercation between Hezbollah and Amal operatives was reported in the village of Arabsalim, in the Nabatieh District. The confrontation reportedly stemmed from an attempt by Hezbollah to move operatives and weapons between homes in the village, prompting opposition from individuals affiliated with Amal who feared that Hezbollah’s military activity would expose residents’ homes to Israeli strikes. That same morning, the IDF issued a targeted evacuation warning for a building in Arabsalim and the buildings adjacent to it, stating that a Hezbollah facility was located nearby. A short time later, the building was struck. The incident in Arabsalim does not stand alone. In recent months, additional frictions have been reported between individuals affiliated with Amal and Hezbollah in Kfar Hatta (January 2026) and al-Baysariyah (June 2026), likewise surrounding Hezbollah activity and infrastructure within civilian areas. Relations between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have long been characterized by a combination of cooperation and rivalry. The two movements cooperate in the political arena as well as on the military level. Since October 2023, Amal operatives have participated alongside Hezbollah in the fighting against Israel, and some have been killed in the course of this activity. At the same time, behind the unity of the so-called “Shiite duo,” there has long been competition between the two movements for power, influence, and control within Lebanon’s Shiite community. The identity of the villages where these frictions occurred is also significant. These are not clear-cut Hezbollah strongholds: both movements have a presence in all three. Kfar Hatta is considered a traditional Amal stronghold; in al-Baysariyah, the movement has a significant and well-established local presence; and in Arabsalim, the local balance of power between the two movements is more closely matched and is even reflected in the distribution of power within the municipality. More at the link Related: Arabsalim: 2026-05-04 Hezbollah fired several rockets and drones at troops stationed in southern Lebanon overnight, the military says. Arabsalim: 2025-10-24 Lebanese health ministry says 4 killed in Israeli strikes Arabsalim: 2025-06-03 Hezbollah member arrested in South for spying for Israel Related: Kfar Hatta: 2026-04-06 IDF strikes Hezbollah HQ and funding network in Beirut Kfar Hatta: 2026-04-05 IAF strikes Iran-backed network in Lebanon Kfar Hatta: 2026-01-22 Report: Aoun and Haykal vow to act in N. Litani prior to Washington visit, meanwhile a fistfight as Hezbies try to keep army away from bombed N. Litani site |
| Posted by:badanov |