Hezbollah has been working for years on integrating itself into the Lebanese state. Now that the country is falling apart, Hezbollah’s assimilation into the state apparatus, which was initially meant to protect the organization against international pressure, could pose a direct threat to the group’s future.

US officials have slammed Hezbollah’s “false” claims it is trying to influence the appointment of top Lebanese banking officials, telling The National that the Iran-backed group was attempting to “distract the Lebanese people.”

An improvised explosive device went off on a road in southeast Turkey on Wednesday, killing five forestry workers traveling to work, officials said.