This paper illustrates the power of Hezbollah in Lebanon and shown by the storage of missiles and its decision to join with Hamas in fighting against Israel
Chatham House — Lina Khatib — June 2021
Hezbollah is a hybrid actor, enjoying state legitimacy in Lebanon and operating both within and outside the state without being accountable to the state. It has grown in status to be able to influence and control the state in Lebanon from within state institutions as we'll as outside them.
Hezbollah's power in Lebanon is not achieved through sheer coercion; it has consolidated control through elite pacts and by taking advantage of weaknesses in the Lebanese state system and infrastructure.
Other ruling parties in Lebanon make use of alliances and exploit some of the same weaknesses, among them lax finance and public contract legislation and measures, for their own benefit. But unlike other parties, Hezbollah is able to exert its upper hand over its political allies to extend its influence indirectly.
Hezbollah stands out among all political actors in Lebanon in having de facto control over Lebanon's border with Syria. It also stands out for the extent of its use of the Port of Beirut to transport drugs, weapons and explosive material both in and out of Lebanon without any state oversight of its operations or inspections of the hangars it controls.
Various ministerial statements have since 2008 enshrined Hezbollah's exceptional right to possess and use weapons in the name of national defence, without delineating Hezbollah's duties or responsibilities in return; this enables it to use force at its own discretion under the pretext of national security. Hezbollah diverges greatly from other political parties in Lebanon in that its own security apparatus plays a central role in the group's ability to hold sway over Lebanese state institutions, whether military or civilian.
Having hybrid status is ideal for Hezbollah. It can rule Lebanon without facing the prospect of civil war or international sanctions on the country. This status also lets it function as the de facto authority in Lebanon without having to address the needs of the Lebanese people.
Although Hezbollah uses the rhetoric of reform, its ministers and parliamentarians have not sought to implement reforms in the state system, thereby contributing to maintaining the status quo that benefits them.