Lebanon in Crisis
Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR)
Giving Voice, Driving Change
THE BIG PICTURE
Lebanon is in turmoil this week, with as many as a million people displaced as Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah continues.
Israel has vowed to prevent the Iranian-backed group from targeting its north, but Lebanon, already under huge pressure, is being pushed to the brink.?
Amidst the chaos, a constant stream of unverified information - whether spread by WhatsApp rumours or partisan media – is heightening fear and panic.
VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE
“In addition to the military war and all the civilian destruction that comes with that, the Lebanese people are being subjected to a huge disinformation war that aims to spread inaccurate information, either to achieve military objectives, or as part of a psychological warfare plan,” one Lebanese NGO worker, internally displaced with his family, told IWPR. “Both traditional media and social media platforms are being used for these purposes.”
In just one example, following the explosion of hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members – widely attributed to Israel – false claims rapidly circulated that solar panels, cars and laptops were randomly exploding, rumours that served to fuel hysteria and propaganda.?
"The danger of fake news and misinformation goes beyond the political instrumentalisation of public opinion,” a human rights defender in Lebanon told IWPR, asking to remain anonymous. “It actually encourages fragile individuals to condone violence as long as it addresses their real or perceived fears. This is how fake news and misinformation becomes a threat to national security."
In a piece for IWPR last November, in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, Lebanese humanitarian aid worker Yousuf described how disinformation was already ramping up in a social and traditional media landscape “rife with disinformation and misinformation”.
“We don’t know what to believe, which source is credible,” he wrote. “I see people emotionally driven by their beliefs and what they support in terms of point of views. So, the news that supports their beliefs will be welcomed.”
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WHY IT MATTERS
“Disinformation is one of the main drivers of conflict at all levels,” said IWPR MENA director Seth Meixner. “This only underscores the role of an unfettered, responsible media in Lebanon to not contribute to the problem, but rather to enable citizens to make better decisions based on the information available to them. In order for this to have a chance of success, journalists must be allowed to do their jobs without the risk of interference or threats from any of the parties involved.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
This year has seen huge turmoil in the Middle East, with, as ever, civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Throughout, as casualty figures rise and millions are displaced, disinformation has driven fear and hatred in the region and beyond.
IWPR will continue to support journalists and civil society activists in Lebanon and the region build resilience to threats to rights and freedoms, promoting free and independent media and safer civic spaces.
As IWPR MENA country director Nadia Samet-Warren reminded us in a recent piece on Lebanon’s turmoil, “It’s vital to remember that nothing about this is normal.”
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