Bangladesh, Sept. 10 -- Lebanon cannot achieve lasting peace, rebuild its institutions or regain full control of its territory while an armed organization answers to Tehran rather than Beirut.

The latest confrontation over Ali Al-Taher ridge offers Lebanon yet another stark reminder of the fundamental problem confronting the country: the continuing existence of an armed Hezbollah outside the authority of the Lebanese state.

The ridge, located north of the Litani River and overlooking strategically important terrain around Nabatiyeh, was proposed for evacuation and transfer to the Lebanese army. Hezbollah rejected the proposal. The consequence was predictable. Rather than seeing the Lebanese flag raised over the position, Lebanon watched...