There is no single definition for psychological warfare. It is often referred to as "psychological warfare," "political warfare," and "propaganda warfare," among many other names. Regardless of its label, it is one of the most effective tools in modern conflicts, as it aims to alter behaviors and beliefs through non-military means, targeting the minds of groups and individuals, whether civilian or military.

This form of warfare seeks to weaken the morale of populations and armed forces, destroy their will, and undermine their confidence in themselves, their communities, and the state’s hierarchy without resorting to conventional military force. The high costs of traditional military warfare, which heavily deplete financial, economic, and human resources, have made it difficult for any nation, even the most powerful, to sustain.

Psychological warfare is built on rumors, falsehoods, and misleading news that spread like the force of hurricanes across oceans.

The recent psychological warfare during the conflict in Gaza and the battles on Lebanon’s southern border is not new. However, new tools and technologies, including artificial intelligence, have been employed. For instance, the Western media circulated false reports about Hamas beheading Israeli children on October 7, a claim later adopted by U.S. President Joe Biden, which turned out to be misleading news aimed at garnering international support for Israel. This kind of propaganda has been notably present in recent months as Israel tried to sway global public opinion and cover up its massacres against Palestinian civilians. One example is the manipulated narrative after the bombing of the Baptist Hospital, where Israel initially blamed Hamas, only to be later revealed as responsible for the continuous bombardments targeting hospitals, schools, and shelters.

Western media, and subsequently some Arab media, have long adopted the Israeli narrative of events, aiming to mislead and obscure or distort facts to favor Israeli interests and support.

In this context, media experts highlight recent rumors spread by social media accounts, which were picked up and published by media outlets without verifying their accuracy. For Lebanon specifically, examples include reports about some countries withdrawing their ambassadors, and The Telegraph’s claims about using Rafic Hariri International Airport to store missiles and explosives, which Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makari dismissed as false allegations and fake news. Hence, this news falls within the scope of psychological warfare.

The Concept of Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare leverages a deep understanding of human nature and the ability to manipulate emotions, utilizing various methods, including:

- Confusion: Using media, especially social media, to spread false news and misleading information to confuse societies.

- Psychological Impact: Exploiting human emotions such as fear, doubt, and lack of trust in one’s community and state.

- Rumors and Controversies: Spreading shocking and controversial rumors to influence people's thoughts and communities, distracting public opinion. Fear-inducing messages can enhance feelings of insecurity, while messages of hope and a better future can incite revolution, uprisings, and organized or random riots, aiming to destabilize or fragment the regime for regional or international political purposes.

These strategies can be seen in the events in Lebanon in 2019, with numerous recent examples.

Consequences of Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare has profound and varied consequences that can begin before traditional warfare, continue during, and persist afterward, extending beyond military conflicts to include social, political, and psychological impacts, such as:

- Moral Collapse: Weakening social cohesion and leading to the disintegration of relationships between individuals and groups.

- Trust Erosion: Facilitating the breakdown of societies and the disintegration of governmental institutions.

- Social Chaos: Misinformation aids in spreading chaos and social unrest, complicating the restoration of order and stability.

- Economic Impact: Fear and flight of investors, leading to a decline in market confidence.

The consequences of psychological warfare are usually long-term, significantly affecting the mental health of individuals, especially children and youth.

Combating Psychological Warfare

To combat psychological warfare, countries and institutions must adopt effective strategies, including:

- Building Trust: Strengthening and reinforcing trust between the government and citizens by fighting corruption and emphasizing transparency and credibility. When citizens trust their society and official institutions, it becomes difficult for psychological warfare and misinformation to achieve their goals.

- Awareness: Raising awareness among citizens about psychological warfare strategies and how to deal with them, training them to verify information and avoid rumors and false reports.

- Psychological Support: Providing psychological support to affected communities, including mental health awareness programs and social assistance.

- Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism: Enhancing security agencies' capabilities and intensifying intelligence activities to uncover and combat psychological propaganda directed against the state and society.

- Sustainable Communication: Using various media and social networks to disseminate accurate messages, clarify facts, and swiftly and effectively counter misinformation.

We may all, intentionally or unintentionally, engage in psychological warfare. Instead of being its victims, we must prepare to counter it.

Ultimately, states must fortify themselves and their citizens against the consequences of psychological warfare, maintaining stability and security. Psychological warfare is a lethal weapon that can achieve strategic goals without resorting to costly conventional direct warfare.

Therefore, countering this type of warfare requires a deep understanding of its methods and developing effective strategies to confront it and protect societies from its devastating effects through intensive awareness, training, and strengthening citizens' trust in the state and its institutions.

When encountering information through news platforms or social media, the most crucial advice is to question its accuracy, source, timing, purpose, who might benefit from it, and what its dissemination might lead to. Psychological warfare involves us all, and instead of being its victims, we must be prepared to counter it.