Hezbollah and the Hamas-Israel War
Hezbollah has used its stronghold in southern Lebanon to launch continual attacks on northern Israel since October 8, 2023. Hezbollah says it is motivated by its support for Hamas, a fellow member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance surrounding Israel. While Hezbollah is Shia and Hamas is Sunni, both are devoted to Israel’s destruction, and both receive funding from and coordinate with Iran.
Hezbollah has been a topic throughout CIE’s webinar series on the Hamas-Israel war, including episodes focused on the Lebanese terrorist organization on March 13 and May 8. The following videos running 3 to 4 minutes draw from the webinar series to unfold specific aspects of Hezbollah and its role in the war.
Hezbollah’s Presence in Lebanon
Hezbollah emerged in Lebanon in the 1980s, rooted in the historical marginalization of the country’s Shiite community. Today, Hezbollah is a major player in Lebanese social and political life, wielding significant influence over both the government and the military landscape. Its continued presence, armed and active south of the Litani River in violation of U.N. Resolution 1701, greatly affects Lebanon’s internal stability and the prospects to rebuild the country. Read more …
Iran’s Influence Over Hezbollah
Iran exerts an immense amount of influence over its most successful proxy creation, Hezbollah. This dominance is reflected in Hezbollah’s reliance on Iranian approval for strategic decisions and strong ideological similarities. Iran and Hezbollah share Shiite ideology and a deep-rooted hatred towards Israel. Hezbollah is a critical tool used by Iran to spread its regional ambitions and strategies. Read more …
Hezbollah’s Assault on Israel Explained
On October 8, 2023, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at northern Israel that escalated tensions in the region and prompted a substantial increase in the IDF presence along the border with Lebanon. It was not the first instance of such hostilities, however, as both sides have a long history of conflict, including the Second Lebanon War in 2006. This current round of fighting has displaced 60,000 Israelis, with no immediate end to the hostilities in sight. The ongoing violence continues to harm Israeli society and deepen the instability of the region. Read more …
Hezbollah’s Response to the Oct. 7 Attacks
Hezbollah and Hamas have significant ideological and religious differences, but they are united in the goal of destroying Israel and in their alliance with Iran. Before Hamas’ attacks on October 7th, the two terrorist organizations had significant coordination, although Hamas did not warn Hezbollah what it planned for that day. Since October 8th, Hezbollah has continued to bombard northern Israel to support Hamas despite the danger to the people of Lebanon, and the Hamas-Hezbollah alliance against Israel continues to strengthen. Read more …