An explanation of how Hizballah was a direct cause of Lebanon's ruin even if it is not the "architect of the system". Calling it a "guarantor" is the same as calling the Mafia a "protector". https://twitter.com/tobiaschneider/status/1293624764322414592

Hizballah paralyzed the country between November 2006 and June 2008 19 months in an attempt to sabotage the government and prevent it from requesting the UN to set up the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. This ended in the Doha agreement giving them 1/3 +1 veto in the cabinet.

Hizballah and its allied also paralyzed the country again for 29 months to impose the election of their ally General Michel Aoun just giving them complete control over government decisions.

Hizballah controls the airport and the parts of the port which it uses for smuggling anything from mobile phones to Kitchens. An attempt to change one officer at the airport resulted in Hizballah's black shirts attacking the city in May 2008.

Hizballah threatens war with Israel every summer resulting in ruining the tourist season and the cancellation of projects and investments. The summer war of 2006 is one example of what it can drag the country to.

Hizballah participated in the wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen on behalf of Iran and at a huge cost to Lebanon. If finances that largely through drug smuggling, money laundering and treating their wounded at the expense of the Lebanese government.

Hizballah and its allies blocked every attempt of privatization of electricity and telecoms as well as any reforms promised by the government in Paris I and Paris II international conferences.

Hizballah and its allies alienated Lebanon from its principal economic partners in the GCC. The result was loss of investments, remittances, aid, contracts to the Lebanese creative sector and boycott of summer tourist season. Impact also felt by 350,000 Lebanese expats.

A series of assassinations in Lebanon between 2004 and 2013 including that of PM Rafic Hariri and ministers, MPs, journalists, politicians and security officers have been linked to members of Hizballah and its ally the Syrian regime.

Hizballah's stranglehold over Lebanon has resulted in sanctions, isolation, boycott and paralysis. Smuggling of hard currency and subsidized fuel to Syria are also a huge drain on public finance and contributed to the liquidity crunch that precipitated the crisis.

Even after the crisis, Hizballah has been opposed to and blocking engagement and negotiations with the IMF and the international community; suggesting that Lebanon cuts its relations with the west and the Arab World and turn to Syria, Iran and China instead.

Hizballah is hijacking Lebanon and turning it into another Gaza where an isolated population is besieged and boycotted and is hostage to a similar organization keeping it impoverished under a constant state of war.

To your point of Hizballah requiring state weakness, this is exactly the same in Iraq where IRGC associated militias play the same role and produce similar results.