Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Hezbollah Weighs Survival Options After Beirut Blast

Nisan Ahmado

   WASHINGTON - Beirut's ammonium nitrate explosion earlier this month has
   further exposed Hezbollah to public anger, with some Lebanon observers
   predicting a gloomy road ahead for the U.S.-designated terror group in
   the aftermath of the devastating event.

   The [1]blast at the portfrom the detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium
   nitrate on August 4 killed more than 200 people and injured thousands
   of others. The Hezbollah-backed [2]government resignedamid[3]mass
   demonstrations demanding radical reforms in the government.

   Experts say Hezbollah is now facing a major challenge to protect its
   influence and shape the country's future government because many
   protesters see it as a major obstacle to eradicating corruption in the
   country's political system.

   Rami Khouri, a senior public policy fellow and journalism professor at
   the American University of Beirut (AUB), told VOA, "Hezbollah don't
   want to run the country, and they don't want to see it collapse into
   chaos. They will have to use their capabilities to engage '¦ both with
   the protesters and the sectarian elites. This is a big challenge that
   they never faced before."

   He added that many people in Lebanon have criticized Hezbollah publicly
   in the past but rarely pushed to be rid of its leader, Hassan
   Nasrallah.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/lebanon-declares-2-week-state-emergency-after-deadly-blast
   2. https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/lebanese-government-resigns-following-beirut-blast
   3. https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/lebanons-government-has-quit-protesters-have-not

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