In what seemed to be a concluding episode following the agreement reached in October 2022, Illaik addressed critics and skeptics who portrayed the deal as Lebanon’s recognition of the state of Israel. In response, Illaik engaged in a semantic debate about the political and legal meaning of the agreement. In this segment, rehearsed rhetoric was used to emphasize that the outcome between Israel and Lebanon was not a bilateral agreement but rather an exchange of documents in accordance with the terms outlined in the U.S.-brokered memorandum.

A Malicious Actor

While journalism plays a vital role in ensuring independent oversight of national institutions by exposing political bias, corruption, or abuses of power, Al-Mahatta’s targeting of Lebanon’s national institutions, including the security and judiciary sectors, while simultaneously engaging in pro-Hezbollah propaganda, does not seem to serve such a purpose. On the contrary, it appears to be a malicious media campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of state institutions in Lebanon.

By producing materials that heavily demonize the Lebanese military and security apparatus while promoting a pro-Hezbollah geopolitical and security narrative, Al-Mahatta seeks to portray Hezbollah’s moral superiority within the complex security dynamics in Lebanon, which involve the coexistence between Hezbollah, the LAF, and Lebanese security forces. Policymakers in both Beirut and the West ought to consider what such propaganda campaigns masking as “alternative” news outlets can mean for policymaking.

Rany Ballout is a New York-based political risk and due diligence analyst with extensive experience in the Middle East. He holds a master’s degree in International Studies from the University of Montreal in Canada and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Uppsala University in Sweden.

Image: Al-Mahatta/Youtube.