The crowds of anti-authority protesters who marched in Beirut after the devastating explosion last week focused their eyes on only one group: Hezbollah, the politician, and the powerful Iranian-backed Shiite militia that in recent years has become an almost untouchable force in Lebanon, according to an article. For the American "WALL STREET JOURNAL" newspaper.
The article continues that Hezbollah - which has described itself from its birth as a bulwark against Israel and other foreign powers and the protector of the Shiites in Lebanon - faces new public criticism as an obstacle to political reform.
Critics say the group helps cover up systemic corruption and has focused its attention abroad rather than dealing with the deteriorating economic situation domestically.
Nizar Hassan (27 years), an activist in the Lebanese human rights group (Li-Haqqi), said that Hezbollah is "the biggest obstacle to the project to establish a strong state with functioning institutions ... they are responsible for much of this."
Protesters have directed their anger on a massive scale at the entire political system that arose out of the country's 15-year civil war, with branches of government dedicated to Christians and Muslims that critics say have led to corruption and incompetence.
And in the case of Hezbollah - the newspaper adds - it ran a network of charities and welfare organizations parallel to the state, to serve the Shiite community, often more efficient than those of the state, thanks in large part to Iranian funding.
Hezbollah - which maintains a large militia and is blamed for a number of terrorist attacks in parts of the world - is officially classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and several European countries.
Sectarian structures in Lebanon are showing cracks, not only in Greater Beirut, where a youth-led protest movement erupted last year. Even in the Shiite community of Hezbollah, from southern Beirut to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, there is opposition to its performance.
"Hezbollah is part of the corruption that led to the explosion," said Sherif Suleiman, an anti-corruption activist from the Bekaa Valley, adding that he himself strongly supports the movement's resistance against Israel, not its policies. "You have no idea how angry we are."
The explosion of tons of ammonium nitrate that has been stored in a warehouse in Beirut Port since 2013 has killed more than 170 people and injured thousands, tearing apart the most vital residential and commercial neighborhoods in Beirut.
On the other hand, Hassan Nasrallah, the party’s secretary general, “categorically” denied the claim that Hezbollah has a cache of weapons, ammunition or anything else in the port. He added that Hezbollah is focusing on the outside as a resistance..It is our duty to know what is happening in Haifa port. In Israel, but not the port of Beirut.
He called for an investigation into the accident. He said the party had no knowledge of ammonium nitrate.
The newspaper indicates that the Hezbollah leader publicly wept over the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in January, but he did not publicly express such feelings about the massacre caused by last week’s explosion, despite his regret. Dozens die and thousands are injured.
"He cries on the air when they kill an Iranian leader, but he laughs and smiles in the face of a Lebanese catastrophe," said Gino Raidi, a veteran anti-regime blogger who participated in the protests. Hezbollah did not respond to several requests for comment.
Compared to the protests that stemmed from economic grievances last year, the recent demonstrations have been more angry. They shouted slogans denouncing Hezbollah as a terrorist movement. Some protesters hung dolls of Nasrallah from the gallows.
Public opposition is rare in Lebanon, where many say they fear violent retaliation for such criticism.
Public anger and protests led to the government’s collapse on Monday. The demonstrators were calling for the fall of the entire political class, not just the government that took power in January. And they increasingly see Hezbollah as integral to the dysfunction.
"The problem with Hezbollah is that it does not have a single answer to any of Lebanon's predicaments today," said Emile Hakim, a senior Lebanese researcher at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
During last year's demonstrations, supporters of Hezbollah chased protesters in Beirut and beat them with batons. And in his speech last week, Nasrallah warned protesters against challenging Hezbollah again.
The party enjoys strong support from its main components. Even Shiites who criticize the movement’s policy say that Hezbollah is the only faction that can protect them.
"When the Shiites feel that they are being targeted as a community, they unite behind Hezbollah," said Amal Saad, a professor of political science at the Lebanese University in Beirut and author of a book on Hezbollah. "It is a very dangerous period," she added.
Although no evidence emerged that Hezbollah had a hand in keeping 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate in the port, many Lebanese critics assume that the party was aware of the stockpile because its members are deeply entrenched in the country's security apparatus.
"I am a strong supporter of Hezbollah in its struggle and jihad against Israel, but I think it made mistakes by allying itself with the corrupt officials and covering up their corruption," said Abbas Zuhri, an activist whose brother and four family members were killed while fighting with Hezbollah.
Other critics have focused on Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian war, as it was a key ally in Iran's efforts to save the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
A major arms trafficker who has fought for years in Syria and bought weapons for Hezbollah, said he is tired of losing friends who carry out strategic goals of Iran and other countries.
"We want our children to fight to defend our homes from Israel, not to serve Iran," said the arms smuggler, who requested anonymity to avoid angering the party leadership.