What Is Hezbollah?

Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group based in Lebanon, where it has fostered a reputation as “a state within a state.” Founded during the chaos of the fifteen-year Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), the Iran-backed group is driven by its violent opposition to Israel and its resistance to Western influence in the Middle East.

Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and many other countries, and has deep-rooted military alliances with repressive, anti-Israel regimes in Iran and Syria. Cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated in recent years, particularly amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. An expanded war between the two longtime adversaries appeared closer than ever following a string of major Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in the summer of 2024.