As Israel retaliated against the Hamas attack on October 7 by unleashing a series of airstrikes into the Gaza Strip, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group praised Hamas' action as 'divine' and engaged in a series of cross-border firings, resulting in casualties on both sides.
As Israel continues to target Hezbollah and vice versa, concerns have emerged that the ongoing conflict between the Jewish state and Hamas will spiral into a regional conflict, threatening to drag Lebanon as well as Iran, into the war.
In a highly-anticipated address, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah confirmed that the group had already entered the war on October 8, the day after the Hamas attack. Nasrallah staunchly warned Israel of the repercussions of the continuous bombardment of Gaza, and said that Israel has not learned its lessons from the past.
However, Nasrallah stopped short of Hezbollah's full-fledged entry into the war, warning of further actions against Israel in the future. He termed it a "decisive historic conflict" and that defending Gaza was "an act of humanity".
What is Hezbollah?
Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based Shia Muslim militant group founded by Iran in 1982. One of the strongest threats to Israel, the origins of Hezbollah's establishment came in the wake of the 1982 war against the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. Since then, Hezbollah has fought against Western troops and entered Lebanese politics as well.
The Iran-backed militant group also attacked US targets in its early days, strongly opposing any form of 'colonialism' by foreign troops in the country. After engaging in a month-long war with Israel in 2006, Hezbollah came out strongly as an armed force with tremendous military power.
However, Hezbollah has come under criticism from its domestic opponents for only focusing on increasing its military arsenal and dominating other political players in Lebanon. Its involvement in the Syrian war has also damaged its reputation. It has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and many others.
Nasrallah became the leader of Hezbollah in 1992 after his predecessor was killed in an Israeli attack and has now become one of the most influential political figures in the country. He is widely popular among the Lebanese for presiding over Israel's withdrawal from the southern region.
Hezbollah's military capabilities
Hezbollah remains one of the strongest threats to Israel, as it possesses a robust paramilitary force with a sizeable arsenal of over 150,000 precision-guided missiles. Its military power has grown after it entered Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad fight Sunni Muslim rebels.
Nasrallah earlier said that the group has 100,000 fighters and is considered more powerful than the Lebanese Army itself, leading to a reputation of a 'state within a state'. It also possesses anti-tank, anti-aircraft missiles and explosive drones.
It is one of the most feared members of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" and much more militarily powerful than the Palestine-based Hamas group. Most of its military supply is believed to be coming from Iran via Iraq and Syria.
Hezbollah's fighters are trained to fight a conventional military, by using light weapons to fight Israeli forces on the ground and anti-tank missiles for armour. They also use a variety of tactics like suicide bombings, ambushes and more. Hezbollah fighters are believed to be better trained than those of Hamas.
Why is Hezbollah fighting against Israel?
Hezbollah and Israel are long-time foes. A full-fledged war broke out between the two in 2006 after militants ambushed an Israeli patrol and took two soldiers hostage. Although Israeli bombardment and ground invasion wreaked havoc on southern Israel, the robust military failed to eradicate Hezbollah - denting its image of invincibility.
Since the war with Hamas broke out in October, Hezbollah forces have attacked military positions near the Lebanese border in northern Israel. It has so far fired rockets, and anti-tank missiles at Israel Defence Forces (IDF) vehicles and also used explosive drones.
Israel has retaliated with similar attacks, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the group of "unimaginable" consequences should it formally enter the war against Hamas, another Iran-backed group.
Given the long history of Hezbollah's fight against Israeli occupation, it opposes similar control by the Jewish state in other disputed areas, like Palestine. It has been blamed for bloody attacks against Israeli forces, such as an attack on the Israeli embassy in Argentina that killed 29 people and the bombing of a Jewish community centre in 1994, which claimed 85 lives.
Additionally, Hezbollah has deep ties with Hamas, as the latter also has a presence in Lebanon. Both groups are allies and are designated as terrorist organisations. Moreover, Nasrallah has repeatedly threatened to conduct an incursion into Israel in case war erupted between the two sides again.
Hezbollah chief Hashem Safi al-Din warned the United States and Israel that the "whole Islamic nation" would join the Hamas operation against Israel if they persist in their "foolishness" - referring to the violation of Islamic holy places.
Hezbollah's relationship with Hamas
Although the two militant groups are backed by Iran, they have not always seen eye-to-eye. A major point of difference between the two emerged in the Syrian civil war, when Hamas backed Syria's Sunni opposition figures and Hezbollah supported the government forces.
However, relations between the two groups have improved and senior Hamas officials enjoy Hezbollah's protection in Lebanon and multiple Palestinian refugee camps there.
However, starting a regional conflict for Hamas can prove to be too much for Hezbollah and Lebanon, which is already suffering from an economy in shambles and internal political tensions. On the other hand, letting Israeli troops take control of Gaza can damage Hezbollah's credibility.
Hezbollah has had to walk a tightrope regarding the war by showing support to Hamas, but it is not yet clear how long it can do so as Israel is seemingly determined to destroy Hamas amid the increasing Palestinian death count.
What does Lebanon say?
Lebanese political figures have so far shown an unwillingness to enter into a war with Israel given their domestic problems. In a recent interview with news agency ANI, Lebanon's envoy to India Rabie Narsh said that the government is doing its best not to get embroiled in the conflict.
The Lebanese envoy highlighted a possibility of escalation of hostilities with the intervention of Hezbollah and accused Israel of provoking the situation by bombing houses in the southern country. He also called the ongoing bombardment in Gaza a "genocide".
Even caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has shown an unwillingness to get embroiled in another conflict with Israel. The recent cross-border firings have also sparked a large-scale evacuation in the south. However, a two-pronged war involving Hezbollah is also unwanted by Israel, as it will force it to divert its troops stationed at the border with Gaza.
ALSO READ | Israel-Palestine conflict: Why do terror groups like Hamas take people hostage? Explained
