It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Umayyad City Ruins in Lebanon, IN gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Lebanon, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Memorial Park in Lebanon, IN with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Tappo or visit Beiteddine Palace, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Lebanon, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Lebanon, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Lebanon, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
When it comes to religious tourism in Lebanon, attention often turns to the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, home to the tomb of St. Charbel, or to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.But Lebanon’s spiritual landscape extends far beyond these well-known destinations. Across the country are lesser-known shrines and monasteries that offer visitors opportunities for prayer, quiet reflection, and a deeper encounter with Lebanon’s rich Christian heritage. Here are five of them:Shrine of St. Maria Goretti in Mi...
When it comes to religious tourism in Lebanon, attention often turns to the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, home to the tomb of St. Charbel, or to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.
But Lebanon’s spiritual landscape extends far beyond these well-known destinations. Across the country are lesser-known shrines and monasteries that offer visitors opportunities for prayer, quiet reflection, and a deeper encounter with Lebanon’s rich Christian heritage. Here are five of them:
The Shrine of St. Maria Goretti in Miziara is the first shrine in Lebanon and the Middle East dedicated to the young Italian martyr.
Built in the shape of a rose, the shrine also commemorates Raya Chidiac, a young Lebanese woman whose killing reminded her family of the story of St. Maria Goretti. The site eventually became a shrine centered on a message of faith, forgiveness, and hope.
High above the coastal town of Jounieh, the Mountain of Divine Mercy in Ghosta overlooks the Bay of Jounieh.
At its center stands a statue of Christ approximately 40 feet tall. The shrine was established through an initiative of the Congregation of Lebanese Maronite Missionaries and also includes smaller shrines dedicated to St. Charbel, St. Rafka, and St. Teresa of Calcutta.
Surrounded by nature and panoramic views, the site offers spaces set aside for prayer and contemplation.
In Mayfouq, in Lebanon’s Byblos District, the Monastery of Our Lady of Ilige preserves centuries of Maronite history.
The monastery served as a residence of the Maronite patriarchs from 1121 to 1440 and is closely associated with the historic icon of Our Lady of Ilige.
The site remains an important reminder of the Maronite Church’s centuries-old presence in Mount Lebanon.
In the village of Joun in the Chouf District stands the Holy Savior Monastery, the motherhouse of the Basilian Salvatorian Order. Its origins date to the beginning of the 18th century.
The monastery also houses the remains of Venerable Father Bechara Abou Mrad, making it a destination for pilgrims seeking prayer and spiritual quiet.
The Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina in Kfifan is closely connected to several prominent figures of Maronite spirituality.
St. Charbel studied philosophy and theology there under St. Nimatullah Al-Hardini, while Blessed Brother Estephan Nehme spent a significant part of his religious life at the monastery.
Today, pilgrims visit Kfifan to pray and to venerate the saints and blesseds associated with the monastery, surrounded by the quiet mountain landscape of Lebanon’s Batroun region.
This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
A 4.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey said, after massive explosions were reported as Israel said it was destroying underground infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.People in the area reported a huge explosion that caused tremors, while the Israeli defense ministry released images showing a fireball erupting into the sky.Blast centered on Nabatieh region ridgeLebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israel carried out a "massive ...
A 4.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey said, after massive explosions were reported as Israel said it was destroying underground infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.
People in the area reported a huge explosion that caused tremors, while the Israeli defense ministry released images showing a fireball erupting into the sky.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israel carried out a "massive explosion" on the Ali al-Taher ridge in the Nabatieh region, causing tremors and a powerful rumble that echoed loudly across the area.
The seismic event was registered roughly 13 kilometers west-southwest of Nabatiyeh, according to the US Geological Survey. The Israeli military said it used more than 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy the tunnel complex, according to Israeli media reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the operation targeted underground infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, and that the demolition completed the establishment of a "security zone" in the area.
They said the network had included a command center and other facilities intended to support a possible Hezbollah incursion into Israel's Galilee region, and that it had provided observation and fire-control capabilities overlooking the northern Israeli communities of Metulla and Kiryat Shmona.
Netanyahu and Katz said the destruction of the complex gave Israeli military operational control of the Ali al-Taher ridge "above and below ground," adding that Israeli troops would remain in the security zone, continue to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure and seek to prevent the group from rebuilding its capabilities.
Thursday's blast is the latest in a series of large-scale Israeli demolitions of suspected Hezbollah tunnel networks across southern Lebanon in recent months, several of which have generated seismic readings and shaken communities well beyond the immediate blast sites.
Southern Lebanon has served as a stronghold for Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that has fought repeated conflicts with Israel, and its underground tunnel networks have been a recurring target of Israeli military operations in the region.
Raids, abductions and occupation deepen insecurity and fear for border communities in southern LebanonLebanese farmer Saleh* woke up before dawn on 3 September to harvest his fig trees in the southern Lebanese border village of Halta.When he stepped out and saw lights outside his neighbours' house, abandoned during the war, Saleh knew an Israeli army unit was there.The Israeli soldiers were searching houses in the village and called three residents on their mobile phones instructing them to come outsid...
Raids, abductions and occupation deepen insecurity and fear for border communities in southern Lebanon
Lebanese farmer Saleh* woke up before dawn on 3 September to harvest his fig trees in the southern Lebanese border village of Halta.
When he stepped out and saw lights outside his neighbours' house, abandoned during the war, Saleh knew an Israeli army unit was there.
The Israeli soldiers were searching houses in the village and called three residents on their mobile phones instructing them to come outside.
After several hours of interrogations, they took the three men away, including Hatem Abdel-Aal, a member of the municipal council. The Israeli army returned Hatem at around midnight.
“They told him you have to come to us by foot, without a car,” Saleh told Middle East Eye. “The man followed their instructions and headed their way. He couldn’t refuse.”
During the raid, the soldiers used loudspeakers to warn residents to stay inside while artillery repeatedly shelled the hills above the village.
“Whenever they are in the area, they fire artillery shells as a warning to residents not to come close or leave their homes,” added Saleh, who stayed in Halta throughout the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah, fearing he would lose his home and land if he left.
“We’ve come to understand all these things,” he said.
Israel has repeatedly abducted Lebanese civilians during military operations in the country over the past three years, claiming they are lawful captures of combatants.
While there is no official tally of Lebanese citizens seized during the past two wars with Israel, a list of 35 people, including at least 12 Hezbollah members and 16 civilians, has been compiled by a committee working on their cases.
Ali al-Taher: What Israel’s 'operational control' of the hill really means for Hezbollah and Lebanon
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Hours after Israeli forces kidnapped the three residents from Halta, Israel announced it was freeing five detainees, including two Syrian nationals, upon concluding that they were not related to Hezbollah.
The fate of Lebanese detainees held in Israel has been on the agenda of US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. The issue, however, has made little progress as other thorny matters remain unresolved, most notably Israel’s failure to withdraw from the “pilot zones”, which were established under the framework agreement to allow the Lebanese army to take control of the areas.
Earlier this week, US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv to attempt to break the impasse in negotiations and address some of Lebanon’s demands.
The subsequent release of detainees was hailed by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as the successful result of Issa’s efforts.
Halta is a Sunni village of some 350 residents on the outskirts of Kfarchouba, near the border with the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
While it has been relatively spared the total destruction of most Shia border towns inside Israel’s so-called Yellow Line, Halta is no stranger to Israeli incursions and kidnappings.
'Whenever they are in the area, they fire artillery shells as a warning to residents not to come close or leave their homes'
- Saleh, farmer
In May, Israeli soldiers abducted three farmers belonging to the Atiyyeh family while they worked the land.
Lubna Salha, a member of Kfarchouba’s municipality, says the village has repeatedly tried to find information on their whereabouts through the Red Cross and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, to no avail.
“We know that they’re not involved in anything and have no political affiliations with anyone. They are labourers. They just work to make a living and provide for their families,” she said.
More than four months after their forced disappearance, their fate remains unknown.
Analysts told MEE that Israel’s return of some Lebanese detainees was merely a symbolic gesture, coming as the Lebanese state faced heavy domestic criticism for failing to secure significant results from US-brokered peace talks.
“Israel gave something with one hand and took something with the other,” said Lebanese political analyst Johny Mounayer.
“They also kidnapped other people from other locations and announced operational control over Ali al-Taher. In practical terms, the Israelis haven't given Lebanon anything,” said Mounayer, referring to the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge, a flashpoint of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.
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The ridge sits at the edge of Israel’s self-proclaimed ‘buffer zone’ and overlooks the major southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh. Israel says Hezbollah has established a command centre there and a network of tunnels beneath.
As well as using detainees as a bargaining chip, Israel could also be signalling goodwill to Washington, the mediator in increasingly faltering negotiations with Lebanon, according to Michael Young, senior editor at the Carnegie Middle East Center.
“There seemed to be some indication that this was done as a favour to the Americans,” he said. “You know, a lot of Israeli actions aren’t really directed at anyone other than the Americans.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed his gratitude for the Trump administration’s role in the realease of the detainees in a statement last Friday.
Local media reports say the next round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon could be held on 15-16 September. But every day that passes without a resolution to Lebanon’s impasse puts further strain on the residents of the occupied villages.
“We’re sitting in our houses and there’s Israeli flags on the hills and villages around us,” Saleh said. “We’re surrounded from four sides.”
*Name changed for security reasons.
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Hezbollah rejected a proposal to evacuate Ali Al-Taher ridge — which sits north of the Litani River and is part of the strategic high ground around Nabatiyeh — and transfer it to the Lebanese army. In other words, Hezbollah challenged Lebanese sovereignty. Subsequently, Hezbollah lost control of the ridge to the Israeli army, which established operational control and destroyed the group’s tunnels and underground facilities.This standpoint should not come as a surprise, but it proved once again that Hezbollah is not a...
Hezbollah rejected a proposal to evacuate Ali Al-Taher ridge — which sits north of the Litani River and is part of the strategic high ground around Nabatiyeh — and transfer it to the Lebanese army. In other words, Hezbollah challenged Lebanese sovereignty. Subsequently, Hezbollah lost control of the ridge to the Israeli army, which established operational control and destroyed the group’s tunnels and underground facilities.
This standpoint should not come as a surprise, but it proved once again that Hezbollah is not a resistance movement but an insurrectionist organization against the state of Lebanon. There is no other description. Hezbollah’s first enemy is a strong and stable Lebanese state.
This action was also an indirect rejection of the Lebanese government’s plan to disarm Hezbollah and of the US-sponsored Lebanese-Israeli framework for Israel’s withdrawal. While Ali Al-Taher was not one of the original pilot zones, it was discussed as a possibility and the opportunity to avoid continued fighting in the area existed. Hezbollah ultimately chose to see the Israeli flag fly over Lebanon instead of the Lebanese one.
So, while Lebanon is seeking to achieve real peace with Israel and exit the never-ending cycle of violence and death, Hezbollah is seeking the opposite. It wants to maintain the occupation so that it can claim the need for resistance and justify the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ role in the country.
Hezbollah is not a resistance movement but an insurrectionist organization against the state of Lebanon
Khaled Abou Zahr
For this reason, it is high time that Lebanese commentators stopped referring to Hezbollah as Lebanese. This is a tool of a foreign occupying force that will continue destroying Lebanon for the nefarious goals of its patrons in Tehran. By continuing to state that Hezbollah is Lebanese, they are protecting an entity that is challenging Lebanon before any outside force. Moreover, this narrative is viciously deflecting from the disarmament plan.
The Lebanese army needs to start understanding that if it is unwilling to challenge Hezbollah’s control over the pilot zones, it will become accountable for the destruction these zones continue to suffer from. More importantly, is it willing to find a way to execute the disarmament plan?
Thankfully, we are now seeing politicians and commentators willing to courageously stand up to Hezbollah and address the need for disarmament. This is the only way to achieve peace and start building Lebanon without going through regular cycles of war and destruction. There is a need to go further and see more popular pressure or support — call it what you want — on the army and the country’s leadership to execute the disarmament plan.
The time for talking has ended. The greater risk the country faces is continued isolation. How long will the US and other countries continue to subsidize the Lebanese army if no real progress is achieved in the coming months? Some policymakers have already started highlighting that the Lebanese army is unwilling to support the disarmament plan. Hence, international support will dry up sooner than people think. As a quick reminder, over the last five years, the US has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in military and security assistance to the Lebanese army. Since 2006, the amount has exceeded $3 billion.
The IRGC’s goal is not to stop the Lebanese people’s suffering but to keep control over part of the Mediterranean Khaled Abou Zahr | ||
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It is also important to stop being fooled by the IRGC’s condition of including Lebanon in any ceasefire during its on-off negotiations with the US. Its goal is not to stop the people’s suffering but to keep control over part of the Mediterranean. Let us not forget that Iran has lost its leverage in Syria to greater influence from Turkiye. It will fight to keep its grip on Lebanon until the country is destroyed.
The flawed binary the IRGC and Hezbollah are imposing on Lebanon is that the choice is between Hezbollah and Israeli occupation. Therefore, they accuse you of treason if you do not choose them. This is false. The real choice in front of the population and the armed forces is between Hezbollah and Lebanese sovereignty. We now need the Lebanese state’s monopoly on arms and the legitimate use of force to build the next phase of the country. We need to highlight that Hezbollah is the real traitor for refusing to allow the Lebanese flag to fly over the entire country.
On top of that, Hezbollah is losing all its confrontations and its capacities are being destroyed. Financial sanctions are also adding pressure and weakening it. The US Treasury Department last month redesignated the group as “for service to the Iranian regime under the command of the IRGC-Quds Force.” So, why is the Lebanese army waiting to take control of the pilot zones, which is the agreed way forward to bring Lebanon’s sovereignty to life for the first time since its founding? And how long will Lebanon’s leaders continue to try betting on regional shifts?
It is clear that some people are betting on the IRGC being the winner of the geopolitical shift that is taking place in the region — and that is a great mistake. The reality is that, despite its disconnected claim to victory, it has already lost, it just does not know it yet. While the challenges will continue, sovereignty is the only way to protect Lebanon and provide the best chance for future stability. Lebanon needs its army to empower this transition now.
·Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, a space-focused investment platform. He is the CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.
The Israeli military says it has destroyed Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure at a key site in southern Lebanon, with Israeli government officials adding that the operation consolidated its so-called security zone in the area.In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israeli forces would remain in the area to prevent the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militant group from re-establishing its presence and rebuilding its capabilities.The Ali al-Taher ridge, abo...
The Israeli military says it has destroyed Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure at a key site in southern Lebanon, with Israeli government officials adding that the operation consolidated its so-called security zone in the area.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israeli forces would remain in the area to prevent the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militant group from re-establishing its presence and rebuilding its capabilities.
The Ali al-Taher ridge, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Israeli border, has become one of the most contested areas of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Katz claimed last Friday that Israeli forces had driven Hezbollah fighters out of what he said was a network of tunnels ??under the disputed highland.
Reuters reported that Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores there in July, quoting unnamed Lebanese security sources.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said that the Israeli military carried out a powerful blast at the ridge, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt across Nabatieh and surrounding areas in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah has yet to respond to the recent Israeli attack.
The Israeli military said its forces had established “operational control” over the ridge, both above and below ground, before dismantling the infrastructure. The network extended for more than 2 km (just over 1 mile) and contained dozens of rockets, missiles and drones, as well as anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices, it said.
The military said a central command complex belonging to Hezbollah’s Badr unit was located within the underground infrastructure. The complex contained command centres, weapons storage rooms and living quarters that allowed fighters to remain underground for extended periods, it said.
Iran reportedly warned the United States last month that it would respond forcefully if Israeli attacks on the ridge continued.
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Over the last weeks, Israeli strikes and ground operations around the Ali al-Taher ridge continued despite a ceasefire agreed in June, after Israel gained control of nearby Beaufort Castle and part of the higher ground overlooking much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
A US-brokered framework agreed after a June ceasefire — between Lebanon and Israel, without negotiating with Hezbollah — called for Israeli forces to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon while Lebanese troops disarm Hezbollah.
The process has stalled, however, with Hezbollah refusing to give up its weapons and Israel saying it will not withdraw until the group disarms.
Since 2023, Israel has pushed into southern Lebanon and seized several strategic positions, occupying swathes of land, which it now increasingly says it needs to maintain a so-called buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
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