History of Hezbollah: Pagers used by the terrorist organization Hezbollah exploded simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday. At least nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed and about 3,000 people were injured in this incident. Hezbollah blamed Israel for this attack. There has been tension between Hezbollah and Israel for many decades. It is said that the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is an important part of the politics and conflicts of the Middle East. This conflict has been going on for many decades and there are complex political, religious and regional factors behind it. Today we will learn about the history, major events and its effects of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
How did Hezbollah emerge?
Hezbollah means “Party of Allah”. Hezbollah as a political party emerged in 1982 among the Shia community of Lebanon. It was formed mainly in response to Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon. Israel entered Lebanon in 1982, with the aim of suppressing Palestinian terrorist organizations. In fact, when in 1982, Israel attacked Lebanon against the Palestinian organization PLO and occupied parts of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah was formed. The purpose of this organization was to drive Israel out of Lebanon and protect the socio-political rights of the Shia Muslim community. Hezbollah based its ideology on the Shia Islamic principles of the Iranian Revolution and considered the Iran-led Shia Islamic regime as its ideal. Hezbollah started guerrilla warfare against Israeli forces at this time and gradually became an important force in southern Lebanon.
1980s and 1990s: Growing conflict
There were several small and major conflicts between Hezbollah and Israel in the 1980s and 1990s. Hezbollah carried out activities such as suicide attacks, rocket attacks, and kidnappings against Israel. In 1983, Hezbollah carried out suicide bomb attacks on US and French military bases in Beirut, killing hundreds of people. These attacks gave the organization global recognition and it began to be seen as a terrorist organization.
Israel also carried out several military actions against Hezbollah, including airstrikes and attacks on its bases in southern Lebanon. In 1992, after the assassination of Hezbollah leader Abbas Musawi, the organization elected Hassan Nasrallah to its leadership, who made Hezbollah more organized and effective.
Year 2000: Israel’s return
In 2000, Israel withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon due to international pressure and continued Hezbollah attacks. This was seen as a major victory for Hezbollah and increased its popularity. However, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continued, and minor clashes between the two sides continued on a number of occasions.
The war of 2006 and our own country was destroyed
The biggest conflict between Hezbollah and Israel occurred in 2006, known as the “2006 Lebanon War”. The war began when Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers and Israel launched a large-scale military operation in response. The war lasted for about a month, killing thousands of civilians and causing massive damage to Lebanon’s infrastructure. Teban has not yet recovered from the massive devastation. At the end of the war, Hezbollah presented itself as a strong resistance force and its popularity grew further among Lebanon’s Shia community. However, Israel also claimed that it had weakened Hezbollah’s military capability.
Time after 2006
After the 2006 war, Hezbollah reorganized and expanded its military capabilities. It improved its missile and rocket capabilities, which remained a constant threat to Israel. During this time, Hezbollah also received military and financial support from Syria and Iran, which proved to be helpful in strengthening it further.
Regional politics and conflicts
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is not just bilateral but is also influenced by the broader regional politics of the Middle East. Iran, which is a major supporter of Hezbollah, considers it a vital tool to pursue its agenda against Israel. On the other hand, Israel and its allies, such as the US, consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization and demand action against it.
The rise of Hezbollah dooms Lebanon
Hezbollah has made deep inroads not only in the military sphere but also in Lebanon’s politics. It is now an important party in the Lebanese parliament and has influence over political decisions. Its political and social services have earned it more support among Lebanon’s Shia Muslim community. Although Hezbollah has played a positive role in some parts of Lebanon, its rise has posed several serious challenges for the country.
Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by many Western countries and Arab nations, causing Lebanon to face international sanctions. This has caused heavy damage to the country’s economy and reduced foreign investment. Hezbollah’s existence as a militia calls into question the sovereignty of Lebanon’s government and military. Hezbollah’s independent military strength has disrupted the balance of power in Lebanon and promoted political polarization. It often causes tensions with Lebanon’s other religious and political factions.
In addition, Hezbollah supported Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the Syrian civil war, which has also been controversial inside Lebanon. This led to increased tensions between the Shia and Sunni communities in Lebanon and incidents of violence. In addition, this intervention further embroiled Lebanon in regional conflicts.
Lebanon has faced cuts in international aid and investment because of Hezbollah. This has severely affected the country’s economy. Tourism, which was an important part of Lebanon’s economy, has also been badly affected due to security concerns related to Hezbollah’s activities.
Overall, the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is not just a military one, but a mixture of political, religious and regional conflicts. This conflict has deeply affected the societies of Lebanon and Israel and has played an important role in the politics of the Middle East. The future resolution of this conflict is not easy, but efforts are underway to resolve it through regional and international agreements.
