(Dan Tri) – While retaliating against Hamas in the south, Israel always has to keep an eye on the northern border for fear that Hezbollah forces may join the war, opening a new front for Israel.
Smoke rises from the village of Dhayra in Lebanon after Israeli shelling.
That worry has increased after a series of firefights between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters in recent days.
On October 9, Hezbollah – a force backed by Iran – fired a series of missiles after three members of this organization were killed in Israeli bombardments.
Not only expressing solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7.
Israeli officials have warned that the country’s military will target all of Lebanon if Hezbollah enters the war.
Who is Hezbollah?
Hezbollah, whose name means `Party of Allah`, is a Shia Muslim political and armed organization backed by Iran.
Israel borders Lebanon to the north, where Hezbollah forces operate (Graphic: BBC).
In 2021, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced that the group had 100,000 fighters.
The US accuses Iran of allocating hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Hezbollah in recent years.
Hezbollah is one of the most influential political blocs in Lebanon and enjoys the support of a large Shia population.
What are Hezbollah’s goals?
After its formation, Hezbollah issued a manifesto highlighting its ideology and goals, which included defeating Israel and expelling Western colonial entities from the Middle East.
In the past, Hezbollah fighters have waged lengthy campaigns against Israeli forces in Lebanon.
After nearly 20 years of deadly conflict, Israeli forces unilaterally withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. Hezbollah later declared itself the first Arab army to force Israel to withdraw.
Hezbollah fighters attend the funeral of two comrades killed by Israeli shelling, in the village of Kherbet Selem, southern Lebanon, on October 10 (Photo: AP).
Has Hezbollah ever been in conflict with Israel?
In a cross-border raid in July 2006, Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers alive as leverage to negotiate a prisoner exchange with the enemy.
The conflict ended inconclusively as neither side was able to gain military superiority, but it left more than 1,100 Lebanese and 165 Israelis dead.
Meanwhile, leader Nasrallah repeatedly said that the 2006 war was a success for Hezbollah because the group was able to resist larger and stronger Israeli forces.
An Israeli government investigation concluded that the 2006 war was a `missed` opportunity and unsuccessful.
A convoy of Israeli Merkava tanks gathered on the outskirts of the northern town of Kiryat Shmona, near the border with Lebanon on October 8 (Photo: AFP).
What organization does the West consider Hezbollah to be?
The US and other Western countries consider Hezbollah a `terrorist organization`.
The European Union only classifies the military branch of Hezbollah as a `terrorist group`, not including the political branch of this force.
What role does Hezbollah play in Lebanon?
Hezbollah has members as ministers in the government and lawmakers in the Lebanese Parliament.
In 2016, Mr. Michel Aoun – a Christian politician supported by Hezbollah – became President of Lebanon.
In the 2022 elections, Hezbollah’s political bloc lost its majority but the group continued to hold power in Lebanese politics.
