Podcast Summary: "Israel's second front: on the ground in Lebanon"

Podcast: Today in Focus (The Guardian)
Episode Date: March 24, 2026
Host: Michael Safi
Guest: Will Christou (Middle East reporter, The Guardian)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, described as "Israel’s second front" in the region. Guardian journalist Will Christou shares harrowing on-the-ground experiences from the besieged city of Tyr and Beirut, detailing the humanitarian crisis, military strategies, and profound societal impacts. The episode analyzes the evolving nature of warfare in Lebanon, parallels with the situation in Gaza, the complexities facing the Lebanese government, and the potential long-term ramifications for the region.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Life Under Siege in Southern Lebanon

• Initial Impressions in Tyr ([01:18-03:24])

  • Despite ongoing bombings and debris, "there was still a lot of people there" (Will Christou, 01:36).
  • After Israel issued evacuation orders, chaos ensued as residents debated whether to leave, frantically gathered belongings, and braced for attack.

• Experience of Bombardment

  • Received an automated call in Arabic from an Israeli (IDF) number warning evacuation.
  • "It really drove home the threat and it was scary... you feel the pressure of the blasts. It rocks the hotel room windows and it sounds loud, like thunder outside your room." (Will Christou, 02:02)
  • By morning, the city was deserted, "air was filled with that sort of post airstrike smell, which is a combination of burning rubber and what smells like gunpowder." (Will Christou, 03:19)

The War’s Spread and Its Impact on Lebanon

• Nationwide Insecurity ([04:29-05:55])

  • Bombings have extended to previously "safe" areas, including central Beirut and the mountains; people sleeping in tents on the street, and nowhere feels safe.
  • "There's a sense that the entire country is suffering from this...there’s no front line. It's the entire country." (Will Christou, 05:26)

• Displacement Figures ([12:20-12:44])

  • "About 15% of the territory of Lebanon is under evacuation order right now...One in five people are displaced. That's over a million people." (Will Christou, 12:20)

Disarming Hezbollah and Its Aftermath

• Challenges for the Lebanese Government ([07:21-08:51])
  • Hezbollah, historically more powerful and better equipped than the Lebanese army, was being disarmed post-2024 war under Israeli/US pressure, but the process was slow and complex due to risk of internal strife and Hezbollah's deep local roots.
  • As the government attempted to disarm Hezbollah, "they started to reconstitute themselves. And they did that with the help of Iran...change the hierarchy, change the way they fought, and reposition certain leaders." (Will Christou, 08:19)

The Trigger and Nature of the Current Conflict

• Hezbollah Rejoins the War ([09:09-10:36])

  • Hezbollah entered with a "barrage of rockets" into northern Israel claiming to avenge the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
  • "Even among Hezbollah supporters, in the first few days, there was anger...They were pissed, to be honest. I mean, they were very angry, and everyone was angry." (Will Christou, 09:44)

• Israeli Military Response and Evacuation Orders ([10:47-12:11])

  • Israel launched a broad bombing campaign, established “no man’s zones,” and issued increasingly sweeping evacuation orders, making wide areas uninhabitable.

Humanitarian Crisis & Social Tension

• Mass Displacement & Shelter Shortages ([12:44-13:59])

  • Over a million are displaced; few shelters are available, with families living in tents or on the streets.
  • "Lebanon, it's a bankrupt country...this is not a country that can handle a displacement crisis like this that for most countries would devastate them." (Will Christou, 13:20)
  • Strikes hit even locations where the displaced have settled: "It’s not just displacement, but it's psychological terror." (Will Christou, 13:51)

• Rising Social Tensions ([14:06])

  • Fear of Israeli targeting fuels reluctance to help displaced people. "People are now afraid to let them into their homes ... fearful that one of them might be associated with Hezbollah and might bring an Israeli missile with them." (Will Christou, 14:06)

Isolation and Siege Tactics

• Cutting Off the South ([14:43-15:37])

  • Israel is "carving off the south of Lebanon...bombing bridges," creating blockades and siege conditions in cities like Tyr, stranding civilians.
  • "If they bomb this bridge, that's it. People are stuck." (Will Christou, 15:19)
  • Concerns grow about forced annexation and decades-long impacts on southern Lebanon ([15:37-16:01]).

• Degrading Civilian Life ([16:27-17:29])

  • Israel increasingly identifies remaining residents as possible targets.
  • Medical workers and hospitals are specifically targeted: "We recorded over 128 attacks on medical facilities by Israel over the past two weeks. 40 medical workers killed." (Will Christou, 17:12)
  • Parallels to Gaza's "degrade the conditions for life" strategy.

• First Responders Under Fire

  • "We're now, we're not sleeping in medical centers, we're sleeping in ambulances, each parked far away from each other. So if a single strike falls, it doesn't kill all of us at the same time. So better two are killed instead of three." (First responder, relayed by Will Christou, 18:11)

Military & Political Objectives

• Hezbollah’s Calculus ([19:42-20:49])

  • Sees conflict as existential; anticipated Israeli attack and chose to act preemptively: "They're very much viewing this as a war for survival."
  • Public anger—"people resent Hezbollah for dragging the country into another war. They say, this is not our war...they also blame Hezbollah for potentially losing half of south Lebanon to Israel." (Will Christou, 20:49)

• Israel’s New Security Doctrine ([21:29-23:29])

  • Seeks a security/buffer zone in southern Lebanon, possibly lasting for years: "They've said that the hundreds of thousands of Shia residents...will not be able to come home until the northern communities in Israel feel safe...could be laying the groundwork for forced displacement, which is a war crime." (Will Christou, 21:49)
  • Open references by Israeli officials to using "the Gaza playbook" (“what we implement in Beit Hanun and Rafah”) in Lebanon ([22:41-23:29]).

International Mediation & Prospects

• Bleak Diplomatic Outlook ([24:04-24:58])
  • International mediation attempts (by France, Lebanese officials, US) are going nowhere: "Israel said they’re not interested in talking. Lebanese officials...have been trying to talk to the Americans to get them to put pressure on the Israelis...the Americans haven't even been answering." (Will Christou, 24:26)
  • "I think what's going to happen with the war in Lebanon is it's going to be decided on the battlefield and then people will come to the table to talk about a ceasefire after the fighting is done." (Will Christou, 24:46)
  • "This could stretch on for a very long time. Potentially longer than the war in Iran." (Will Christou, 24:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the fear during bombardment:
  "You can't sleep because you wonder how close it's going to get." — Will Christou, [02:09]

• On Lebanon’s social fabric:
  "There’s a sense that the entire country is suffering from this...there’s no front line. It's the entire country." — Will Christou, [05:55]

• On mass displacement:
  "One in five people are displaced. That's over a million people. And most of those people are out of shelters. They're living on the streets." — Will Christou, [12:20]

• On targeting health workers:
  "You just can't think about it. If you think about it too much, you'll start to panic...just know that you're trying to help people and that's good enough." — First responder, as recounted by Will Christou, [17:40]

• On Israeli military strategy:
  "This is the Gaza playbook being rolled out in Lebanon." — Will Christou, [18:37]

• On existential dynamics:
  "Many analysts describe Hezbollah joining the war as suicidal...this is a non state militia which has been severely degraded...fighting probably the most powerful military in the region..." — Will Christou, [19:59]

• On Israel’s public statements:
  "[The buffer zone] is not going to be a temporary one. This could last for years...this could be laying the groundwork for forced displacement, which is a war crime." — Will Christou, [21:49]

• On the cycle of violence:
  "This is the new way they want to fight wars, that it’s a model." — Will Christou, [23:42]

Important Timestamps

• Initial impressions and bombings in Tyre: 01:18–03:24
• Bombings and insecurity in Beirut: 04:29–05:55
• Hezbollah disarmament and resurgence: 07:21–08:51
• Hezbollah enters current war, Lebanese reaction: 09:09–10:36
• Displacement statistics and humanitarian impact: 12:20–13:59
• Siege and isolation tactics: 14:43–15:37
• Attacks on medical centers and first responders: 16:27–18:30
• Hezbollah's motives and Israeli strategy: 19:42–23:29
• Bleak diplomatic outlook, war’s potential duration: 24:04–24:58

Conclusion

This episode offers a powerful, ground-level perspective on the war’s impact in Lebanon, with insightful context on military and political dynamics from both Israeli and Lebanese angles. Through eyewitness testimony and thoughtful analysis, Will Christou illustrates not only the devastation but also the broader strategic shifts reshaping the region, evoking Gaza as a grim template for Lebanon’s present and future.