What is Hezbollah in Lebanon and will it go to war with Israel?

Hezbollah is a significant group in Lebanon that has been making headlines recently. The organization is led by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, who has been at the helm since 1992. Recently, a tragic rocket attack, which Israel attributed to Hezbollah, resulted in the deaths of 12 children and young adults. This incident has raised concerns about the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. It marked the deadliest event in nine months, during which there have been frequent exchanges of fire between the two parties. Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim organization that holds considerable political power in Lebanon. It was founded in the early 1980s with support from Iran, a country that is influential among Shia Muslims. At that time, Israel had occupied southern Lebanon during the civil war. Since its inception, Hezbollah has participated in national elections, becoming a major political force in the country. The group has also been responsible for numerous attacks on Israeli and American forces in Lebanon. When Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah claimed credit for driving them out. Hezbollah maintains a significant military presence in southern Lebanon, with thousands of fighters and a large arsenal of missiles. The group continues to oppose Israel's presence in disputed border areas. Many Western nations, Israel, Gulf Arab countries, and the Arab League classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. In 2006, a major conflict erupted between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered by a deadly cross-border raid by Hezbollah. In response, Israeli troops invaded southern Lebanon to eliminate the threat posed by Hezbollah. Despite the Israeli military's efforts, Hezbollah survived the conflict and has since increased its number of fighters and improved its weaponry. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is a key figure in Hezbollah's leadership. He has played a crucial role in transforming the organization into both a political and military force. Nasrallah has strong ties to Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dating back to 1981 when he was appointed as Khomeini's personal representative in Lebanon. Although Nasrallah has not appeared in public for years due to fears of assassination by Israel, he remains a revered figure within Hezbollah and delivers weekly televised speeches. Hezbollah is recognized as one of the most heavily armed non-state military groups globally. The organization is funded and equipped by Iran. Nasrallah claims that Hezbollah has around 100,000 fighters, although independent estimates suggest the number is between 20,000 and 50,000. Many of these fighters are well-trained and battle-hardened. Recently, Lebanese civilians have reported that their homes have been damaged by Israeli retaliatory strikes in response to Hezbollah's rocket attacks. Hezbollah is estimated to possess approximately 130,000 rockets and missiles, with most being small, unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets. However, the group is also believed to have anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, as well as guided missiles capable of striking deep into Israeli territory. This arsenal is significantly more advanced than what Hamas has at its disposal in the Gaza Strip. The potential for Hezbollah to engage in war with Israel has increased in recent weeks. Fighting escalated on October 8, the day after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel, when Hezbollah began firing at Israeli positions in solidarity with the Palestinians. Since then, the group has launched rockets at northern Israel and Israeli positions on the Golan Heights, targeted armored vehicles with anti-tank missiles, and attacked military targets using explosive drones. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted airstrikes and artillery fire against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The United Nations reports that these attacks have displaced over 90,000 people in Lebanon, with around 100 civilians and 366 Hezbollah fighters killed in Israeli strikes. In Israel, officials state that 60,000 civilians have been forced to leave their homes, and 33 people have died, including 10 civilians, due to Hezbollah's attacks. Despite the ongoing violence, analysts suggest that both sides have so far aimed to contain the conflict without escalating it into a full-scale war. However, there are growing fears that a particularly deadly incident could lead to a rapid escalation of hostilities.