Hezbollah, or the Party of God, stands as a significant Islamist movement in the Middle East, headquartered in Lebanon. Its multifaceted influence revolves around a well-armed military wing, potent political power, and a wide-reaching network of welfare services, including clinics and schools. Furthermore, Hezbollah possesses substantial business interests, both legal and clandestine, that generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.
This formidable organization maintains close ties with Iran and Syria, which have played instrumental roles in its development. Hezbollah is not confined to Lebanon; it operates regionally, with experts suggesting its involvement in training Shia militias in Iraq and cooperating with Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The group’s history is marked by acts of violence, particularly since its inception in 1982. Hezbollah has been linked to major and lethal acts of violence in Lebanon, against Israel, and on an international scale, pioneering mass casualty suicide attacks.
Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, and several other nations. It holds sway over Shia-dominated regions in Lebanon, including southern Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
In the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Hezbollah’s relationship with the Palestinian faction Hamas is complex. While both organizations share the goal of Israel’s destruction, they differ in their ideological roots, with Hamas stemming from the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah aligning with the Iranian revolution. While they had disagreements during the Syrian civil war, both maintain consultation channels, often involving Iranian security officials.
Hezbollah’s recent display of fighters with advanced weaponry and training highlights its military capabilities. The organization boasts a force of 20,000 well-trained and armed fighters, which can be rapidly augmented by part-time forces and less-trained auxiliaries. They have fortified their southern Lebanon stronghold with deep bunkers, tunnels, and underground storage facilities.
Notably, Hezbollah possesses substantial stocks of long-range missiles capable of reaching nearly any part of Israel, posing a significant threat. Recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria aimed at preventing further arms shipments from Iran to Hezbollah.
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have escalated, raising concerns of a two-front conflict involving Israel. While some analysts believe Hezbollah seeks a limited conflict to avoid major losses given its political and commercial interests, the risk of miscalculation remains high.
An additional factor is the substantial U.S. military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, aimed at deterring Hezbollah and its supporters in Tehran. This presence adds complexity to the evolving situation, making future developments in the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah context difficult to predict and potentially perilous.
The changing dynamics since the October 7 attacks have shattered conventional wisdom about these organizations, making the future in the region highly unpredictable and fraught with danger.