Kris Kristofferson

Hezbollah is a Shiite Islamist militant group and political party based in Lebanon. Since its inception in the early 1980s, Hezbollah has played a pivotal role in shaping Lebanon’s political landscape, influencing regional geopolitics, and challenging Israel’s military presence. Its complex structure, encompassing both a paramilitary wing and a political organization, along with its deep ties to Iran, has made Hezbollah a powerful and controversial force in the Middle East.

This article will examine Hezbollah’s origins, its ideology, its relationships with regional and global powers, its political influence within Lebanon, and its role in the broader geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, particularly with Israel and in the Syrian Civil War. Through an exploration of these facets, one can better understand Hezbollah’s lasting impact on the region.

2. Origins of Hezbollah

Hezbollah (Arabic: حزب الله, meaning "Party of God") was founded in the early 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), a period of immense sectarian strife and external intervention in Lebanon. The organization’s birth can be traced to the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon in 1982, which aimed to root out Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) forces operating in the region. Hezbollah emerged in the chaos as a resistance movement against Israeli occupation, advocating for the defense of Lebanon's Shiite Muslim population, which had been historically marginalized in the country’s complex sectarian system.

Hezbollah's creation was heavily influenced by the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which brought Ayatollah Khomeini's Shiite Islamist government to power. Iran, under Khomeini, sought to export its revolutionary ideals across the Shiite world, and Hezbollah became a key instrument of this strategy in Lebanon. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) played a critical role in training and arming Hezbollah's early fighters, ensuring the group’s survival and growth in its nascent stages.

3. Ideology and Goals

Hezbollah’s ideology is rooted in a blend of Shiite religious principles, anti-imperialism, and resistance to foreign occupation, particularly by Israel and Western powers. The group’s primary objectives have evolved over time but have consistently revolved around:

• Resistance to Israel: One of Hezbollah's founding principles is armed resistance against Israel. Hezbollah views Israel as an illegitimate state occupying Palestinian land and southern Lebanon, and it has maintained a strategy of confrontation, from military attacks to rocket strikes and guerilla warfare.

• Establishment of an Islamic State: In its early days, Hezbollah advocated for the establishment of an Islamic state in Lebanon based on the principles of Velayat-e Faqih (the governance of the Islamic jurist), as established by Ayatollah Khomeini. However, this goal was later downplayed to accommodate Lebanon’s multi-confessional society.

• Opposition to Western Imperialism: Hezbollah has long positioned itself against what it perceives as Western hegemony in the region, particularly the influence of the United States and its allies. The group’s rhetoric has often framed its struggle as part of a broader resistance against Western imperialism in the Middle East.

Over time, Hezbollah's rhetoric has moderated, particularly in the domestic Lebanese political arena, where it operates within the framework of Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system. This pragmatism has allowed the group to balance its ideological goals with the political realities of Lebanon's pluralistic society.

4. Relationship with Iran and Syria

Hezbollah’s relationship with Iran is perhaps its most defining feature. Iran provides Hezbollah with significant financial, military, and political support. Hezbollah, in turn, serves as a key Iranian proxy in the Middle East, promoting Iran’s interests in Lebanon and the broader region. The IRGC’s Quds Force has been instrumental in training Hezbollah fighters, while Iranian funding has helped Hezbollah build a vast network of social services in Lebanon, bolstering its popularity among the Shiite community.

Syria, particularly under Hafez al-Assad and later his son Bashar al-Assad, has also been a crucial ally of Hezbollah. Syria provided logistical and political support to Hezbollah, allowing the group to operate freely in southern Lebanon. The Assad regime viewed Hezbollah as a useful partner in its own struggle against Israel and as a means of exerting influence in Lebanon.

During the Syrian Civil War (2011-present), Hezbollah’s close ties to the Assad regime were tested but ultimately reinforced. Hezbollah deployed thousands of fighters to Syria to support the Assad government, playing a crucial role in key battles against Syrian opposition forces. This intervention helped secure Assad’s survival and strengthened Hezbollah’s military capabilities, as its fighters gained valuable combat experience.

5. Hezbollah's Role in Lebanon's Political System

Hezbollah is not just a militant group; it is also a major political force in Lebanon. After the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1990, Hezbollah gradually entered Lebanon’s political system, participating in parliamentary elections and forming alliances with other sectarian political parties. It officially became a political party in 1992, entering the Lebanese parliament and maintaining a significant presence in Lebanese politics ever since.

Hezbollah’s political influence stems from a combination of factors:

• Military Power: Hezbollah’s military capabilities give it significant leverage in Lebanon’s political system. Its armed wing, which is stronger than the Lebanese national army in many respects, acts as both a deterrent against Israeli aggression and a means of projecting power domestically.

• Social Services: Hezbollah runs a vast network of social services, including schools, hospitals, and charities, particularly in Lebanon’s Shiite-dominated regions. This network has helped it build a strong base of support among the Shiite community, which views Hezbollah not only as a resistance movement but also as a provider of essential services that the Lebanese state has often failed to deliver.

• Political Alliances: Hezbollah has formed strategic alliances with other Lebanese political factions, particularly the Amal Movement, another Shiite party, and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), a Christian political party led by former Lebanese President Michel Aoun. These alliances have allowed Hezbollah to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional Shiite base.

However, Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon has also been a source of controversy. Many of its political opponents accuse it of undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty by maintaining an independent militia and acting as a proxy for Iran. Its involvement in the Syrian Civil War has further polarized Lebanese society, with critics arguing that Hezbollah’s actions have dragged Lebanon into a regional conflict against its will.

6. Hezbollah and Israel

Hezbollah’s most well-known and sustained conflict is with Israel. The group emerged primarily as a response to Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and its armed resistance played a key role in forcing Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000. This withdrawal was seen as a major victory for Hezbollah, bolstering its reputation as a successful resistance movement.

However, hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel have flared up multiple times since 2000, most notably during the 2006 Lebanon War. The war, which began after Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, resulted in a month-long conflict that left over 1,000 Lebanese civilians dead and caused significant destruction in Lebanon. Despite the heavy toll, Hezbollah framed the war as another victory, as it managed to survive the Israeli onslaught and continue its operations.

The Hezbollah-Israel conflict is part of a broader regional struggle, with Hezbollah acting as a proxy for Iran in its confrontation with Israel. The group has built up a formidable arsenal of rockets and missiles, which it has used against Israeli targets in both southern Lebanon and northern Israel. This ongoing threat continues to make Hezbollah a central player in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

7. Hezbollah in the Syrian Civil War

Hezbollah’s intervention in the Syrian Civil War marked a significant turning point for the group. Initially, Hezbollah’s focus had been primarily on resisting Israel and building its political influence in Lebanon. However, the Syrian conflict forced Hezbollah to take on a new role as a regional actor, intervening directly in the war to support the Assad regime.

Hezbollah’s decision to intervene in Syria was motivated by several factors. First, the group viewed the survival of the Assad regime as crucial to its own survival, as Syria provides a critical supply line for Iranian arms and support. Second, Hezbollah was concerned about the rise of Sunni extremist groups in Syria, which it viewed as a direct threat to Shiite communities in both Syria and Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s intervention was decisive in several key battles, including the recapture of the strategic town of Qusayr in 2013. However, the group’s involvement in the war has also come at a significant cost. Thousands of Hezbollah fighters have been killed or injured in Syria, and the group’s involvement in the conflict has alienated many Sunni Muslims in Lebanon and the broader Arab world, who view Hezbollah as complicit in Assad’s brutal crackdown on the Syrian opposition.

8. Conclusion

Hezbollah’s rise from a small Shiite militia in the 1980s to one of the most powerful political and military forces in the Middle East is a testament to its adaptability and the strategic alliances it has forged with Iran and Syria. The group has demonstrated remarkable resilience, surviving repeated Israeli offensives, navigating Lebanon’s complex political system, and intervening in regional conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War.

However, Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon and the wider region remains deeply contentious. While it is seen as a protector of Lebanon’s Shiite community and a symbol of resistance against Israel, it is also criticized for undermining Lebanese sovereignty, exacerbating sectarian tensions, and serving as a tool of Iranian influence. As the Middle East continues to experience geopolitical shifts, Hezbollah’s future will be shaped by its ability to balance its domestic political role with its broader regional ambitions.