Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu'llah)

Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim political and militant organization, is designated as a terrorist group by both the United States and the European Union. Backed heavily by Iran and Syria, it operates a powerful security force, a political wing, and an expansive social services network within Lebanon, where it functions as a de facto state. The group was founded on the principle of opposing Israel and resisting Western influence in the Middle East. This agenda has positioned it as a key Iranian proxy and garnered support beyond its Shiite base.

However, Hezbollah’s active involvement in the Syrian civil war, where it has backed the Assad regime, has caused friction with parts of the Lebanese population, especially Sunnis who sympathize with the Syrian opposition. This alignment has led to increased domestic tensions and retaliatory attacks in Beirut. Western governments view Hezbollah as a serious threat to both regional stability and international security.

Historical Background

Hezbollah, or "Party of God," was born out of Lebanon’s civil war and the 1982 Israeli invasion, which sought to eliminate Palestinian fighters in southern Lebanon. In response, marginalized Shiite groups mobilized with ideological and logistical backing from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, embracing an Iranian-style Islamic governance model.

Hezbollah gained notoriety early on through high-profile attacks, including the 1983 suicide bombings of the U.S. embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut, which killed 258 Americans. These events led to the withdrawal of U.S. peacekeeping forces from Lebanon under President Ronald Reagan.

The group officially outlined its mission in a 1985 manifesto, declaring allegiance to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. It called for the creation of an Islamic government in Lebanon, the elimination of Western influence, and the destruction of the Israeli state. In its own words:

“Our fight against Israel begins from the premise that the Zionist entity is inherently aggressive and built on stolen land. This struggle will end only with its destruction. We reject all treaties, ceasefires, and peace agreements with it.”

Hezbollah’s Leadership and Structure

Hezbollah operates under a hierarchical structure led by a general secretary, selected by a seven-member shura (consultative) council. This central council oversees five main sub-councils, each responsible for distinct areas:

1. Political Assembly – manages the group’s political agenda and relationships;
2. Jihad Assembly – oversees military and militant operations;
3. Parliamentary Assembly – coordinates activity in Lebanon’s legislative institutions;
4. Executive Assembly – handles the group’s administrative and social service programs;
5. Judicial Assembly – manages legal matters, including internal discipline and religious rulings.

Since 1992, Hassan Nasrallah has served as Hezbollah’s general secretary, assuming leadership after Israel assassinated his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi. Nasrallah was previously affiliated with al-Dawa al-Islamiya, a militant Islamist group inspired by Iraqi cleric Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr. Among his top aides are Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, and Hussein al-Khalil, a senior political adviser.

One of the group’s most infamous operatives was Imad Fayez Mugniyah, regarded as Hezbollah’s chief strategist for global terrorist operations. Believed to have joined in the group’s early years, Mugniyah quickly ascended through its ranks. He was killed in a 2008 car bombing in Damascus – an attack Hezbollah blamed on Israel, although Israeli officials have denied responsibility.

Hezbollah receives significant financial and material support from Iran, estimated at up to $200 million annually, despite Iran’s economic constraints due to international sanctions. This backing underscores Iran’s strategic interest in Hezbollah as a proxy force in the region.

Western governments, including the U.S. and EU member states, view Hezbollah not just as a destabilizing presence in Lebanon but as a global terrorist organization capable of executing operations well beyond the Middle East.

Hezbollah’s Regional and Global Operations

Hezbollah’s primary base of operations lies within Lebanon, particularly in Shiite-majority areas like southern Lebanon, parts of Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley. These strongholds have allowed the group to function with considerable autonomy, leading many observers to describe it as a "state within a state." After years of guerrilla warfare, Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, but tensions have persisted, particularly around the contested Shebaa Farms area. A significant flare-up occurred in 2006, when a cross-border attack by Hezbollah escalated into a month-long war. The conflict, which involved the launch of thousands of Hezbollah rockets into Israel and the deployment of advanced weapons suspected to have come from Iran, ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire but no lasting peace.

Hezbollah's role expanded dramatically in 2013, when leader Hassan Nasrallah publicly committed forces to support the embattled Assad regime in Syria. This intervention, marked by key battles like the capture of Qusayr, cemented Hezbollah’s image as not just a Lebanese militant group but a regional Shiite force aligned with Iran’s strategic goals. The group’s continued presence in Syria has drawn Israeli airstrikes, aimed at stopping weapons shipments from Iran, and raised domestic concerns within Lebanon that Hezbollah is prioritizing foreign alliances over national interests.

Hezbollah’s International Footprint

The U.S. State Department designated Hezbollah a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997, citing its extensive global reach. The group is believed to operate or coordinate terrorist cells across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The Obama administration once labeled Hezbollah as "the most technically capable terrorist group in the world." Its operations, often tied to Iranian support, have included attacks or plots in Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Cyprus, and Thailand. However, Hezbollah has denied involvement in many of these cases.

Notable incidents attributed to Hezbollah or its operatives include:

• The 1983 bombings of U.S. facilities in Beirut
• The 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847
• The 1992 and 1994 bombings of Israeli and Jewish targets in Argentina
• The 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia
• The 2012 bombing of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria

In response to increasing evidence of global terrorist activity, the European Union officially designated Hezbollah’s military wing a terrorist entity in 2013.

Hezbollah’s Role in Lebanese Politics

Hezbollah entered the Lebanese political mainstream after the Taif Agreement of 1989, which helped end Lebanon’s civil war. While other militias disarmed, Hezbollah retained its weapons under the justification of resisting Israeli occupation. It won parliamentary seats in 1992, and its influence grew significantly after the 2008 Doha Agreement, which gave the group veto power in the national cabinet.

Although Hezbollah presented itself as a political actor – participating in elections and updating its manifesto – it never abandoned its core ideological opposition to Israel. In a 2009 speech, Nasrallah reaffirmed the group’s stance: “This stand is firm, permanent, and final... it does not tolerate any retreat or compromise.”

Hezbollah has since helped shape multiple Lebanese governments, including the ousting of Prime Minister Saad Hariri in 2011 and the resignation of his successor in 2013. However, its military engagement in Syria has eroded domestic support and drawn Lebanon deeper into regional conflicts, especially as Sunni militants opposing Assad view Hezbollah as a legitimate target within Lebanon.

As of 2014, these tensions remained paralyzed Lebanon’s political system, with Hezbollah’s commitment to the Syrian war complicating the formation of a stable cabinet. Experts warn that Hezbollah’s future – whether it emerges stronger or more isolated – may hinge on the outcomes in Syria and Iran’s regional ambitions.