The war is between Israel and Hamas. But now, as a year of war comes to an end, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is facing its deadliest blow yet. Over the past 10 days, Israel has intensified the intensity of the war, and its attitude is having an impact on Hezbollah fighters. Talking about the seriousness of the conflict with Hezbollah, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said last week that the center of gravity is now shifting to the north and Israel is mobilizing troops, resources and energy in this direction. So far, Israel’s “Operation Northern Arrow” launched against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has killed 585 Lebanese.
The question is whether the battle is between Israel and Hamas. So how did Hezbollah get in? In fact, Israel and Hezbollah have always been bitter enemies.
The seeds of hatred are buried in history
The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 caused unrest in Shia-dominated Lebanon. Young people here were affected by this revolution. After this revolution, a group of fundamentalists began to view the United States and Israel as enemies. The group receives economic and military support from Iran; both are linked to a common ideology and goal of gaining power in West Asia.
Jewish Israelis are the common enemy of Iran and Hezbollah. Beyond that, both Iran and Hezbollah are hostile to Israel’s ally, the United States.
Israeli forces fighting for survival in West Asia attacked Lebanon in 1982. Israel claims that Palestine Liberation Organization programs are active in Lebanon. Hezbollah was formed to oppose this Israeli attack.
In its “open letter” published in 1985, Hezbollah called the United States “the number one source of evil” and agreed with the views of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Khomeini said many times that the United States is the source of all our troubles and the source of all malice. By combating this act, we are only exercising their legal rights to protect Islam and the dignity of our country.
In this way, the U.S. presence in West Asia and U.S. support for Israel became a reason for Hezbollah’s rebellion against the Jewish state.
Since then, Hezbollah has continued to attack U.S. and Israeli targets, and Israel has continued to conduct covert and overt operations against Hezbollah.
Until 1990, Israel occupied most of the Lebanese border. In 2006, Hezbollah launched a surprise attack on Israeli soldiers on the border, killing many soldiers and kidnapping some. Israel responded by declaring war. After the war, Hezbollah leader Nasrallah had to say that if he had known that Israel’s retaliation would be so severe, he might not have launched the war.
In 1994, a car bomb attacked the Israeli Embassy in London, injuring more than a dozen people; and an attack on the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killed 85 people. Hezbollah has been blamed for both attacks, but the group denies involvement.
How is Hezbollah involved in the current war?
On October 7, 2023, when Hamas shocked the world with its deadliest attack yet on Israel, Hezbollah saw an opportunity here. Hezbollah leader Nasrallah met with Hamas leaders in November to formulate a strategy to decisively defeat Israel. Since then, Hezbollah has continued to fire on the Israeli border.
Thousands of people on both Israeli and Lebanese sides were displaced as a result of the shooting. According to reports, the fighting in northern Israel has displaced more than 70,000 people, and more than 110,000 people have been displaced and fled to Lebanon.
Israel shocked after 12 children die
On July 27, a rocket attack in the Golan Heights killed 12 children and teenagers and heightened tensions. Israel said the attack was carried out by Hezbollah.
Now it’s Israel’s turn to take revenge. On July 30, the Israel Defense Forces announced that it had killed senior Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukar in an airstrike south of Beirut.
The next day, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
On August 25, the Israeli army once again dispatched jets to attack Hezbollah. Israel claims Hezbollah is preparing an attack in retaliation for the killing of Fouad Shukar.
After that, both sides continued to attack with rocket launchers. On September 17 and 18, pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members exploded, shocking the world.
Hassan Nasrallah blamed the attacks on Israel and said they had crossed all red lines.
