Hezbollah
Hezbollah (Arabic: حزب الله, meaning Party of God) is a Shiʿa Islamist political, military, and social organisation based in Lebanon. Founded in the early 1980s with the backing of Iran, it has evolved from a resistance movement against Israeli occupation into one of the most powerful political and paramilitary forces in the Middle East. Hezbollah operates simultaneously as a militant organisation, a political party, and a provider of social welfare, wielding significant influence over Lebanon’s domestic affairs and regional geopolitics.
Origins and Formation
Hezbollah emerged in 1982 during the Lebanese Civil War, following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. The movement’s foundation was influenced by the victory of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and guided by the principles of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) espoused by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
The organisation was formed as a coalition of Lebanese Shia groups that split from the Amal Movement, uniting under a shared commitment to Islamic governance, resistance against Israel, and opposition to Western influence. Early Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers, deployed in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, played a vital role in training and structuring Hezbollah’s initial military framework.
Ideology and Objectives
Hezbollah’s founding manifesto, published in 1985, declared its primary goals to be:
- The expulsion of Israeli forces from Lebanon and the liberation of occupied Lebanese territory.
- The resistance to Western imperialism, particularly against the United States and its allies.
- The establishment of an Islamic state in Lebanon governed by Shia Islamic principles.
Over time, Hezbollah’s rhetoric moderated in its domestic political discourse, emphasising Lebanese nationalism while maintaining its ideological and strategic ties with Iran. Its motto, “The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon”, reflects both its religious foundation and its self-proclaimed role as a defender of Lebanese sovereignty.
Military Structure and Capabilities
Hezbollah possesses a highly organised and disciplined paramilitary wing, commonly referred to as the Islamic Resistance. It is regarded as one of the most formidable non-state military actors in the world, with an estimated tens of thousands of fighters, extensive training, and a vast arsenal of weapons.
Key military capabilities include:
- Short- and medium-range missiles, capable of striking targets deep inside Israel.
- Anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems, supplied and maintained through Iranian and Syrian support networks.
- Naval capabilities, including anti-ship missiles used during the 2006 Lebanon War.
- A structured command hierarchy, including regional units and specialised brigades.
Hezbollah’s military strength has grown significantly since the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, allowing it to act as both a deterrent and an independent military power within the Lebanese state.
Political Participation and Governance
Hezbollah entered Lebanon’s formal political system in 1992, participating in parliamentary elections and winning seats. Since then, it has established itself as a major political party, forming alliances with other groups such as the Amal Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement led by Michel Aoun.
Within the Lebanese government, Hezbollah controls cabinet positions and wields substantial influence over decision-making processes. It also maintains an extensive social welfare network, running schools, hospitals, reconstruction projects, and charities, particularly in Shia-majority areas. This dual role—militant and political—has strengthened its legitimacy among Lebanon’s Shia population while fuelling controversy among opponents who see it as a “state within a state.”
Role in the Lebanese Civil War and Israeli Conflicts
Hezbollah first gained prominence through a series of attacks against Israeli and Western targets during the 1980s, including the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings, which killed hundreds of U.S. and French troops. It continued to wage guerrilla warfare against Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon throughout the 1990s.
The Israeli withdrawal in May 2000 was widely credited as a Hezbollah victory and bolstered its status as the vanguard of Lebanese resistance. However, tensions culminated in the July 2006 Lebanon War, triggered by Hezbollah’s cross-border raid and capture of Israeli soldiers. The ensuing 34-day conflict caused widespread destruction in Lebanon but solidified Hezbollah’s image among supporters as an effective resistance force capable of challenging Israel.
Involvement in the Syrian Civil War
Since 2012, Hezbollah has been heavily involved in the Syrian Civil War, fighting alongside the forces of President Bashar al-Assad. Its intervention, justified as defending Shia holy sites and combating extremist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, expanded its regional military reach.
This participation strengthened Hezbollah’s alliance with Iran and Syria, forming part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance” against Western and Israeli influence. However, it also drew criticism within Lebanon, where many viewed the involvement as compromising national neutrality and deepening sectarian divisions.
Relations with Iran and Syria
Hezbollah’s strategic and ideological relationship with Iran remains central to its identity and operations. Iran provides financial aid, military training, and advanced weaponry, while Syria acts as a logistical and territorial bridge for this support. The group’s alignment with Iranian regional policies situates it as a key non-state proxy within Iran’s broader geopolitical strategy in the Middle East.
Through this relationship, Hezbollah plays a pivotal role in maintaining the Iran-led network of influence spanning Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. This positioning gives Tehran leverage against its adversaries, particularly Israel and the United States.
International Status and Designations
Hezbollah’s dual character as a political party and armed organisation has led to varied international recognition. Some countries, including Russia, China, and many in the Arab world, engage with Hezbollah as a legitimate political actor.
However, others have designated it—either wholly or in part—as a terrorist organisation. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Arab League, and the European Union (for its military wing) consider Hezbollah responsible for acts of terrorism and destabilising activities in the region.
Domestic and Regional Influence
Within Lebanon, Hezbollah is both a protector and a polarising force. It commands loyalty among much of the Shia community and maintains influence through its welfare institutions and resistance narrative. Yet, its autonomous military power challenges the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and has contributed to internal political paralysis.
Regionally, Hezbollah is a central actor in the Arab–Israeli conflict and in the balance of power across the Levant. It has supported Palestinian factions and positioned itself as part of the broader resistance against Israeli occupation, enhancing its reputation in parts of the Arab world.
Contemporary Developments
In recent years, Hezbollah has faced growing economic and political pressure due to U.S. sanctions, Lebanon’s financial collapse, and domestic protests against corruption and governance failures. Nevertheless, it remains resilient, maintaining a sophisticated organisational structure and deep-rooted social networks.
The group continues to modernise its military capabilities and extend its influence in regional crises, including in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Clashes along the Israel–Lebanon border, particularly following Israeli operations in Gaza, continue to underscore Hezbollah’s enduring centrality to Middle Eastern security dynamics.
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