What is Hezbollah and why is Israel attacking Lebanon?

Hezbollah, a powerful group in Lebanon, is currently at the center of a significant conflict with Israel. Recently, Israeli air strikes have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people in Lebanon, marking one of the most severe escalations of violence between the two sides in decades. In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rockets into northern Israel, raising concerns that the ongoing fighting, which began with the war in Gaza, could escalate into a broader regional conflict. Hezbollah is a prominent Shia Muslim political party and armed group that has a substantial presence in the Lebanese parliament and government. The group emerged in the 1980s as a response to Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon during the civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990. Over the years, Hezbollah has received considerable support from Iran, both financially and militarily, and has formed a strong alliance with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. The armed wing of Hezbollah has been responsible for numerous attacks against Israeli and American forces in Lebanon. When Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah claimed credit for driving them out and has continued to oppose Israel's presence in disputed border areas. A significant conflict erupted in 2006 when Hezbollah conducted a deadly cross-border raid, prompting an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at neutralizing the threat posed by Hezbollah. The war resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,000 civilians, but Hezbollah declared victory and has since increased its number of fighters and improved its weaponry. The group is classified as a terrorist organization by Western nations, Israel, and Gulf Arab states. Politically, Hezbollah has been active in Lebanon's national elections since 1992 and has become a major political force. Although the group and its allies lost their parliamentary majority in the 2022 elections, a new government has yet to be formed, and Hezbollah continues to hold positions in the caretaker administration. The Lebanese population is deeply divided regarding Hezbollah. While the group enjoys significant popular support, many critics accuse it of political corruption and oppose its military capabilities, viewing them as a major factor in the ongoing conflicts in the country. As a powerful political entity, Hezbollah also operates schools, hospitals, cultural institutions, and charities throughout Lebanon. In terms of military strength, Hezbollah boasts thousands of fighters and a vast arsenal of missiles in southern Lebanon. It is considered one of the most heavily armed non-state military forces globally, funded and equipped by Iran. Hezbollah claims to have 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 have combat experience from the Syrian civil war. Lebanese civilians have reported that their homes have been damaged by Israeli attacks in response to Hezbollah's rocket fire. One resident, Chadia Kaddouh, described the destruction of her home due to what she claimed was Israeli shelling amid the ongoing tensions. Hezbollah is estimated to possess between 120,000 and 200,000 rockets and missiles, with the majority being small, unguided 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 within Israel. Their arsenal is considered to be more sophisticated than that of Hamas in Gaza. The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has been at the helm since 1992. He has played a crucial role in transforming Hezbollah into both a political and military force. Nasrallah maintains close ties with Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Although he 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. The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated significantly since October 8, 2023, following an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen that triggered the war in Gaza. In solidarity with the Palestinians, Hezbollah began firing at Israeli positions and has since launched over 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have retaliated with air strikes and artillery fire against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The fighting has displaced more than 70,000 people in northern Israel and over 110,000 on the Lebanese side of the border. Tensions further increased after an attack in the Golan Heights on July 27, which Israel attributed to Hezbollah, although the group denied involvement. On July 30, the IDF announced an air strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, and the following day, an incident occurred in Tehran, Iran's capital, with Israel neither confirming nor denying its involvement. On August 25, the IDF targeted Hezbollah after identifying preparations for an attack in retaliation for the killing of a key figure. Despite this, Hezbollah managed to launch hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel, although they did not target major cities or deploy their more advanced weapons. Another significant escalation occurred on September 17 and 18, resulting in 39 deaths and thousands of injuries. Nasrallah blamed Israel for these attacks, stating they had 'crossed all red lines. ' The IDF's involvement in these incidents was neither confirmed nor denied. Hezbollah faced another setback on September 20, when at least 16 members, including top military commanders, were killed. The casualties included children and other civilians. Two days later, Hezbollah sought revenge for the death of a commander by firing longer-range weapons deep into Israel, causing thousands of Israelis to seek shelter and damaging homes near Haifa. As of September 20, Lebanon's health ministry reported at least 613 deaths, primarily among Hezbollah fighters, but also included at least 147 civilians. In Israel, authorities reported at least 49 deaths directly resulting from the attacks.