Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia fighting alongside Israel at its border, is engaged in renewed border skirmishes with Israel. On Monday night, Wissam Tawil of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force was fatally shot during such fighting along the Israeli frontier.
To gain more insight into Hezbollah’s operations and relationship to key sponsors, please use our interactive map and timeline. It highlights all areas of Hezbollah activity ranging from travel routes and aliases to larger themes related to its foundation, development, and operational model.
What Happened?
Israel shared video footage of military strikes it said were directed against what it described as Hezbollah “military infrastructure belonging to them” near Ghandouriyeh, located near southern Lebanon’s Ghandouriyeh on Sunday night. British-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed one position was used by Hezbollah for smuggling tunnels before being converted to install transmission poles.
Israel’s government is under intense pressure to demonstrate that they can protect themselves against Hezbollah, which has threatened major destruction on their northern border. But experts warn that an all-out war with them could prove disastrous for Lebanon and the wider region.
As of late, rockets and drone sirens have been regularly audible along the Israel-Lebanon border, prompting Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) to evacuate its shelter in Khan Younis due to a shell hitting it and injuring four people (one was five-year-old daughter of staff member) inside. Doctors Without Borders reported four were injured from this shell strike as reported by them and was instructed by authorities.
Who Killed Them?
IDF forces have advanced into Shejaiya, a dense Gaza City neighborhood which has seen intense fighting. According to their account, during this operation they destroyed a central tunnel network used by Hamas commanders that included shafts inside homes, schools and medical clinics that allowed them to hide underground for extended periods. Furthermore, evidence has emerged showing that Hamas military wing commander Mohammed Deif was still alive after using this network as cover from Israeli attacks; even showing an evidence-bearing wheelchair in his underground workplace!
Israeli leaders maintain that they remain committed to seeing tens of thousands of citizens return to villages evacuated under their fire and threaten retaliatory action if they escalates its skirmishes with Israel.
What Is Hezbollah?
Hezbollah is an autonomous state within a non-state entity, comprising thousands of trained fighters and an enormous missile arsenal. Backed by Iran and led by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah – who founded Amal Movement during Lebanese civil war in 1980s before becoming its secretary general in 1992.
Nasrallah has developed close ties to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah is an influential political and military force in Lebanon, boasting its own parliament seat and having the ability to overrule decisions ranging from customs inspections to cabinet appointments.
Hezbollah acts in ways that benefit its own interests, while taking into account the wider Middle Eastern balance of power when attacking Israel or Hamas. For instance, during their 2006 conflict against each other over Lebanon Shia votes Hezbollah relies on. Now this Iran-backed militant group boasts significant presence across Israel’s border from Lebanon – something many other militant groups can only dream about doing!
What Will Happen Next?
Since the Gaza conflict, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in limited armed conflicts. Both groups have traded rocket fire with each other along their shared borders while occasionally clashing across it; however, attacks have been limited and attacks restricted to specific locations along these borders.
Hezbollah has established itself in Lebanon and is determined to preserve their presence there, viewing it as a key regional proxy against Israel and the West. But Hezbollah knows that any war could quickly dismantle alliances they’ve built up over years of cooperation.
The recent spate of fighting may just be the start. Although both the United States and Iran have put pressure on all parties involved to rein in violence, with senior Hamas commander being killed in an airstrike over Beirut and Iranian-backed rebels attacking international shipping in Red Sea increasing risks of further conflict.
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