Introduction:
Hezbollah¹, meaning "Party of Allah" in Arabic, is a Lebanese Shi'a Islamist group that began exchanging fire with the IDF on October 8², shortly after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. The organization, which operates as both a military force and political party in Lebanon, has maintained ongoing hostilities with Israel along the northern border for over four months. This article aims to explain Hezbollah's history and its significance in the current regional conflict.
Historical background:
In 1943, political power in Lebanon was divided between the Sunni, Shi’ite (also known as Shia), and Maronite populations of Lebanon, which each have differing religious philosophies: Sunnis and Shi’te are both Muslim, though their claims of Prophet origin and actualization of religious practice clash, while Maronites, having been around since the Byzantine rule, sought refuge in what became Lebanon. The Maronites welcomed those seeking safety from neighboring Middle Eastern countries and became a melting pot of cultures, though their practice of Christian religion has not shifted³ ⁴. This divide of political influence between the three groups was a result of the 1920 French Mandate, put in place before Lebanon received its independence. This political situation remained largely unchanged until Hezbollah was formed.
The events that led to Hezbollah’s formation began in March 1978, when a group of 11 Lebanese Palestinians committed the Coastal Road Massacre (a terror attack with the intention to derail political negotiations between Israel and Egypt), which killed 38 Israeli civilians⁵. Israel responded by invading the PLO headquarters in southern Lebanon. In retaliation, the Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) attempted to assassinate Israel’s ambassador for Britain (Shlomo Argov) a few months later⁶ ⁷ ⁸.
The wreckage of a bus following the March 1978 Coastal Road attack that killed 38 Israeli civilians. This event precipitated Israel's intervention in Lebanon, which eventually led to Hezbollah's formation. Photo: Israeli Government Press Office.
Israel’s retaliatory strike on the PLO headquarters also caused a Shi’ite Islamist group (which later became Hezbollah) to begin arming themselves against Israel in 1979. Later that year, Iran began providing Hezbollah with financial support, with the intention of expanding its regional influence through proxies in neighboring countries⁹. Hezbollah's first conflict was with the Amal movement, another Shi'ite political and military organization in Lebanon. The clash between Hezbollah and Amal stemmed from their opposing stances on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): Hezbollah supported the PLO, while Amal aligned with Syria in opposing it¹⁰ ¹¹.
Hezbollah gained international attention in 1983 with two suicide bombing attacks on military barracks in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. Marines at their headquarters, 58 French paratroopers in a separate barracks, and 6 Lebanese civilians¹². The US and France had come to Beirut with the intention of offering international support to Lebanon in the midst of their civil war,¹³ which stemmed from sectarian tensions between Christians, Shi'a Muslims, and Sunni Muslims, as well as conflicts involving Palestinian groups and the Israeli military in southern Lebanon. ¹⁴
The aftermath of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing. A U.S. serviceman surveys the destruction. This attack marked Hezbollah's emergence as a significant militant force. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense.
Hezbollah’s first step to distinguish itself as a larger organization, rather than a small militant group, occurred in 1985 when they released their first manifesto¹⁵, which contains nanti-Western sentiment and calls for armed resistance. While the US and UK have both since classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, the EU only classifies its military wing as such, acknowledging the group’s role in the Lebanese government. ¹⁶
Hezbollah has been formally involved in the Lebanese government since 1992, when eight members of the group were elected into the Lebanese parliament. Since then, Hezbollah has continued to hold political status, including their gain of a parliamentary majority in 2009.¹⁷ Hezbollah later lost parliamentary majority due to high poverty rates and the country’s struggle over soaring inflation; however, since Hezbollah’s influence is deeply embedded within the country’s social construct, political status is maintained.¹⁸ ¹⁹
Hezbollah's Ideology:
While Hezbollah emerged initially as a militant group during Lebanon's civil war, it evolved into an organization that characterizes its military actions as resistance against Israeli presence in disputed territories. The group has simultaneously developed into a significant political and social force in Lebanon.
Hezbollah's initial agenda was published in their 1985 manifesto, written by Hezbollah founder Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah²⁰. This manifesto calls for ending ties with the US, France, and their allies, while advocating for an Islamic government in Lebanon. It also emphasizes allegiance to Iran's supreme leader, rooted in supporting the Iranian revolution²¹. Most significantly, it calls for resistance to Israel's existence, and further rejects Western political and cultural influence in the region.
Hezbollah released an updated manifesto in 2009, which conveys slight adjustments in priorities as it shifts from an absolute need of Islamic statehood to recognizing Lebanon's multi-faith composition. Another change is the emphasis on Lebanese national unity and sovereignty, rather than religious ties with Iran. Hezbollah maintains its stance on Israel as an enemy but moderates its position on of Western influence: it deems the US and Western influence as worthy of criticism, as opposed to being a stated enemy.
Weaponry:
Hezbollah is considered to be one of the most well-armed non-state militaries in the world²². Prior to Israel's invasion of Lebanon, Hezbollah possessed anywhere between 100,000 to 150,000 rockets²³. To put this in perspective, prior to October 7, 2023, it was estimated that Hamas and all of the other groups in Gaza combined only had roughly 30,000 rockets²⁴. Hezbollah's rockets can reach up to 700 km²⁵; while considered short-range, they are still capable of hitting many areas in Israel, due to Israel's small size and proximity to Lebanon²⁶. However, on October 13, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that more than two thirds of Hezbollah's rocket and missile arsenal has been destroyed²⁷.
Before October 8, Hezbollah possessed approximately 2,000 drones that could reportedly reach anywhere in Israel²⁸. With the progression of the war, many drones were fired or destroyed, making it likely that Hezbollah has far fewer drones now than it had on October 7, 2023. That being said, the group also has many types of anti-tank, anti-air, and anti-ship weaponry²⁹. They also have multiple tanks, having shown them off in a military parade in Syria³⁰ ³¹. They do not have their own traditional air or naval force³².
Hezbollah boasts a sizable fighting force of roughly 100,000 fighters, 20,000 of whom were active as of 2017³³. To compare, Hamas had between 30,000 and 40,000 fighters before the start of the Israel-Hamas war³⁴. Note that all of the numbers may fluctuate and become out of date as Israel's current invasion of Lebanon develops.
Events Since October 8, 2023:
From October 8, 2023 until September 17, 2024, Hezbollah and Israel have opted for a continuous tit-for-tat approach, with Israel and Hezbollah firing at each other as a response to the other's fire. Hezbollah has justified their involvement by arguing that they are fighting for the Palestinian cause and against Israeli aggression; in response to Hezbollah's rocket firing, Israel has been striking Lebanese positions and eliminating Hezbollah commanders and military personnel³⁵. Many civilians on both sides have become displaced due to the damages caused by the groups and the danger their attacks pose³⁶ ³⁷.
Ever since Hezbollah started firing at Israel on October 8, the growing tensions caused Israel to assert that they cannot accept Hezbollah's presence on their border, and to insist that Hezbollah vacate southern Lebanon, going above the Litani river. Israel claims that the river will act as a natural buffer because it is quite far from Israel proper, and rivers act as natural defensive positions.
On September 17–18, however, the status quo changed. Israel's Mossad allegedly planted explosives inside of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members. The explosions killed 42 people in Lebanon and injured more than 3,500 people, primarily in Lebanon³⁸. Since then, Israel has substantially increased its airstrikes on Lebanon, peaking at the 23th of September, when they killed around 500 people³⁹. At the time of publishing, Hezbollah's death toll stands at around 2,800 members killed⁴⁰, and Israel's at around 50 due to Hezbollah's actions alone⁴¹. Israel's increase of aggression came as the residents of northern Israel have been displaced from their homes for almost a year due to constant barrages of rockets from Hezbollah and the group's refusal of retreating back to the Litani⁴². Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in September 2024, "...no country can accept the wanton rocketing of its cities. We can't accept it either…"⁴³
Throughout the conflict, especially since September 17th, many government officials hinted at an invasion, such as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stated on September 10th: "The gravity center of Israel's military operations moves northwards."⁴⁴ Additionally, Nasrallah declared before his death on September 27th⁴⁵, "What happened [in Israel's pager attack]… …can be called a declaration of war…"⁴⁶
Hezbollah has declared that it is shifting its strategy from solely defending the people of Gaza to defending the Lebanese people as well⁴⁷. On the night of September 30 until October 1, Israel crossed the Lebanese-Israeli border, beginning a ground invasion with the intention of returning Israel's displaced civilians to their homes⁴⁸.
Map showing the initial phase of IDF ground operations in southern Lebanon, October 1, 2024. The map highlights key features including the Litani River (which Israel demanded Hezbollah retreat beyond), Israeli evacuation zones, artillery strikes, and closed military zones. Notable locations like Metula, Kiryat Shmona, and the Golan Heights are marked. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and Critical Threats Project.
Conclusion:
Hezbollah is considered to be one of the most well-armed non-state militias. Hezbollah is a Lebanese terrorist organization whose goals include opposing Israel, maintaining Islamic influence in Lebanon, maintaining ties with Iran's leadership, and resisting Western presence in the region⁴⁹. Hezbollah claims that parts of Lebanon, such as Har Dov⁵⁰, are occupied by Israel, and supports the Palestinian claim to Israeli territory. Tensions with Israel have been high for months, with Israel demanding that Hezbollah retreat to the Litani river. Following Hezbollah's refusal to comply, Israel launched its ground invasion, which remains an active and developing conflict at the time of writing.
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