As part of its mission to decode the most intricate layers of international relations and regional security, KHANA, in collaboration with the Kadras Institute, recently hosted a high-level strategic session. This session brought together leading experts on Lebanese affairs and transnational security to analyze a critical phenomenon: the “securitization” of political actors in the Middle East.
The session was held with the participation of Mohammad Khajouei, an expert on Lebanese affairs; Mohammad Ali Hassannia, an expert on Lebanese affairs; and Mohammad Bayat, Senior Researcher at the Kadras Institute
Constructing the “Criminal” Identity
Experts highlighted how Lebanon’s structural fragilities are exploited in Western narratives to reframe Hezbollah’s environment as inherently “criminal.” By deploying labels like “Narco-terrorism,” certain think tanks attempt to link legitimate regional activities to illicit global networks, often using fabricated religious or legal justifications.
The Globalization of Accusation
The session explored the expansion of this securitization beyond Lebanon’s borders. From the Lebanese diaspora in West Africa to financial hubs in Europe and Latin America, the discourse has shifted toward framing every economic interaction as potential “money laundering.” Analysts noted that reports from agencies like the DEA are frequently leveraged to build a case for transnational criminalization.
The Weaponization of Financial Frameworks
A key takeaway was the synergy between these security narratives and global financial mechanisms such as FATF, CFT, and the Palermo Convention. This strategy effectively transforms private family or commercial transfers into targets of suspicion, aiming to systematically dismantle the financial and social legitimacy of the resistance.
