The role of Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian Lebanese militant group and political party, is often left unclear by the press. On one hand, reports of terror attacks conducted by Hezbollah in Lebanon and abroad are commonplace. On the other hand, reports of Hezbollah’s expanding political power in Lebanon are similarly commonplace. These seemingly conflicting reports lead to the question: is Hezbollah a terrorist group or a political party?

Pinpointing exactly what the organization is and what role it plays seems difficult. While it certainly isn’t easy, Hezbollah is crucial for understanding numerous major world conflicts. For example, the organization played a large role in the Lebanese Civil War, and their deep disputes with Israel make the organization important in understanding the state of Israel. Furthermore, in a world where tensions between the US and Iran are rapidly intensifying, understanding Iran’s power is crucial. Because Hezbollah is so closely aligned with Iran, understanding Iran’s power means understanding Hezbollah’s. Thus, Hezbollah is becoming increasingly more relevant on the world stage. As the organization becomes more relevant, it becomes even more important to understand what the group really is.

How was Hezbollah founded?

In April of 1975, gunmen from Lebanon’s Maronite Christian Kataeb Party ambushed a bus in Beirut, killing 27 Muslim Palestinians. This attack began the Lebanese Civil War, which continued to be characterized by sectarian divisions. The following June, thousands of largely Muslim Palestinians residing in the Tel al-Zaatar refugee camp were massacred by Syrian-allied Christian militias in Beirut. From the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, it became clear that the war was not just between people, but also between ideologies and religions. The Lebanese Civil War “hardened divisions among the country’s various sectarian communities,” creating a perfect environment in which Hezbollah could arise.

In 1978, Israel - which would eventually prove to be one of the most important factors in the creation of Hezbollah - intervened in the Lebanese Civil War. Since the Palestine Liberation Organization, or the PLO, moved its operational base to Lebanon after being kicked out of Jordan, small-scale attacks against Israel had been mounting. In 1978, Israel responded by invading Southern Lebanon. After withdrawing, Israel ceded the territory to a Christian militia named the South Lebanon Army, or SLA. Strategically, the SLA acted as a physical barrier between Israel and the rest of Lebanon. Israel gave land to and funded the Christian SLA knowing that by giving power to Christians, the Muslim threat posed by Hezbollah and other groups would be lessened. Naturally, this move added fuel to the fire of sectarian divisions.

In 1982, after a failed assassination attempt of the Israeli ambassador to Britain by Palestinians operating in Lebanon, Israel invaded Lebanon yet again. While the invasion naturally angered many in Lebanon, it was the country’s large Shia population that was particularly angry, as Israel had allied with Christian militias, i.e., the Phalanges, who repeatedly attacked Muslims. Although Israel’s intent in invading was to debilitate the Palestinians in Lebanon, “the move galvanized a faction of disenfranchised Shiites to take up arms in support of an Iranian-style clerical [or religious] regime.” With the help of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, which provided vital military and financial support, Hezbollah was founded.

Hezbollah made a name for itself very early on by conducting numerous terror attacks against Israeli and Western targets. On April 18, 1983, Hezbollah bombed the US Embassy in Beirut, killing 63, including 17 Americans. In October of the same year, Hezbollah attacked the headquarters of the peacekeepers and killed 241 Americans and 58 French. Through these terrorist attacks, Hezbollah displayed their anti-Westernism, which was a foundational element of Hezbollah’s ideology. In addition, because Hezbollah was founded as a violent extremist group during wartime, violence was ingrained into the foundation of the group. The group began as a militant group with clear terroristic elements.

What are Hezbollah’s ideologies?

In 1985, two years after the establishment of the group, Hezbollah wrote “An Open Letter: The Hizballah Program” detailing the group’s ideologies, goals, and reasons for being. In an attempt to describe exactly what Hezbollah is, they wrote, “We are the sons of the umma (Muslim community) - the party of God (Hizb Allah) the vanguard of which was made victorious by God in Iran.” “We are an umma linked to the Muslims of the whole world by the solid doctrinal and religious connection of Islam, whose message God wanted to be fulfilled by the Seal of the Prophets, i.e., Muhammad.” Clearly, Hezbollah’s ideologies center on Islam. Like other Islamic nationalist groups, Hezbollah views itself as being a subset of the greater Muslim community “linked to the Muslims of the whole world.” In addition, Hezbollah openly established its ties to Iran, crediting Iran for the creation of the group. Ideologically speaking, Hezbollah draws much of its Shiite radicalism from Iran, a Shiite majority nation governed by a Shiite government.

In “An Open Letter,”Hezbollah lays out very clearly their three main objectives. Firstly, Hezbollah aims “to expel the Americans, the French and their allies definitely from Lebanon, putting an end to any colonialist entity [in Lebanon].” Secondly, Hezbollah aims “to submit the Phalanges to a just power and bring them all to justice for the crimes they have perpetrated against Muslims and Christians.” Lastly, Hezbollah aims “to permit all the sons of [their] people to determine their future” and choose an Islamic government which Hezbollah claims will guarantee “justice and liberty for all.” Hezbollah’s objectives make clear that anti-Westernism, Islamism, and the desire to Islamize Lebanon are key to Hezbollah’s agenda. In addition, Hezbollah stated their “major enemies” as being “the Phalanges, Israel, France and the US.” Hezbollah is opposed to foreign intervention in Lebanon, exemplified by their hatred of the US, France, and Israel. Although Hezbollah states that people can freely worship Christianity, Hezbollah’s hatred towards the violent Christian Phalanges has helped to deepen the Christian-Muslim divide in Lebanon. Furthermore, Hezbollah’s hatred towards Israel has helped to deepen the hatred between Jews and Muslims in the region.

Arguably one of the most foundational elements to Hezbollah’s ideology is their staunch anti-Israel stance. However, Hezbollah’s hatred towards Israel doesn’t end at anti-Israelism. In fact, the group calls for the destruction of the state. Hezbollah described Israel as “the hated enemy that must be fought until the hated ones get what they deserve.” They continue by saying that their “struggle [against Israel] will end only when this entity is obliterated.” Hezbollah’s goal to obliterate the state of Israel is the root cause of much of the violence Hezbollah has been responsible for.

Hezbollah was founded with the goal of “expelling Israel and the Western troops who [tried] to keep peace amid rising violence after Israel’s 1982 invasion.” From that, anti-Westernism and a staunch anti-Israel stance became pillars of Hezbollah’s ideology. An anti-Christian stance also developed, primarily from Hezbollah’s opposition to the Phalanges and other violent Christian militia groups. However, what is at the very core of Hezbollah’s ideology is radical Shiite nationalism, from which Iranian support comes in. In addition to Hezbollah’s Islamic radicalism, their ideology regarding governance in Lebanon shows political motivation.

What is Hezbollah’s place in Lebanese society?

Since the establishment of Lebanon in 1943, the country’s minority Shia Muslim population has been severely oppressed. The National Pact of 1943, which determined how Lebanon’s cultural and religious diversity would play out in Lebanon’s government, ensured that Lebanon’s president would always be Christian, while the country’s prime minister would always be Sunni Muslim. Shiite Muslims were promised the speaker of the assembly, a relatively unimportant job. “The Shia community was the most poorly represented in the administration” in both the National Assembly and the government as a whole. As a result, Shiites saw the 1943 National Pact “as a Sunni-Maronite alliance against them,” spreading anti-Sunni Muslim and anti-Christian sentiments among the Shiites. In addition, the National Pact politically disadvantaged Shiites who were already socially and economically disadvantaged within Lebanese society.

The National Pact and the subsequent quota system for the National Assembly based on religion and ethnicity helped to further fuel deep sectarian divisions in Lebanon. Bryan Early, an expert on Middle Eastern affairs, wrote that, “The consociational divisions of power [or divisions of power distributed among different cooperating groups] tended to reinforce confessional divisions and political disputes, rather than allowing them to be avoided.” These divisions brought on by the National Pact and its quota system helped to erode the power of the Lebanese government and bring the country into civil war. Between increasing divisions along ethnic and religious lines, which fueled the Lebanese Civil War, and the extremely disadvantaged position Shiites had in Lebanese society, Hezbollah arose as a mouthpiece for Lebanon’s Shiites. Hezbollah offered the group a powerful voice, one they had never had before.

During the Lebanese Civil War, Hezbollah proved itself to be beyond just a mouthpiece for Shiites. While the Lebanese government could not provide basic services for its population, particularly for the lowest classes, of which most Shiites were a part, Hezbollah began offering social services. During the war, “Hezbollah embarked on the construction of a complete social-welfare system within the Shiite communities, including the construction of schools, hospitals, and charitable relief centers.” The services provided by Hezbollah were of “a higher quality… than they had previously received from the Lebanese state.” Through Hezbollah’s social welfare programs, they solidified the support of Shiites. In addition, they proved that they could act as a state within a state, beyond just a militant group.

In 1989, in an attempt to address Lebanon’s sectarian divisions and end the Civil War, the Taif Agreement was signed by multiple parties, including Hezbollah and the Lebanese central government. What the agreement accomplished however, was that it allowed Hezbollah to remain armed even after the end of the civil war.

In the 1992 elections, Hezbollah decided to run candidates, effectively politicizing the organization. The move, which was supported by the vast majority of the country’s Shiites, “represented a crucial transition for Hezbollah - shifting it from periphery of Lebanese society to its very core.” Hezbollah’s history of providing social welfare for Shia communities had already provided Hezbollah with the political support they needed to become a major party.

Since 1992, Hezbollah has acted as a fully operating militia in addition to being a major political party. Through the the financial support of Iran and the loyalty of Lebanon’s Shiites, Hezbollah has operated on a level at, or arguably above, the Lebanese central government. Today, “Hezbollah has obtained a level of military capability and tactical sophistication that outmatches its state counterpart.” In addition, Hezbollah “comprises the largest party bloc within Lebanon's democratically elected parliament.” Since 2008, Hezbollah has had veto power to all government decisions. This is all in addition to Hezbollah’s continuation of its social welfare programs. Essentially, Hezbollah acts as a state within a state, complete with a military, social welfare programs, and full political capabilities.

Where does Hezbollah operate outside of Lebanon?

As with many terrorist organizations, Hezbollah’s reach extends beyond Lebanon. In the 1980’s, as Hezbollah gained traction in Lebanon, they looked to expand overseas. South America, rife with corruption, became an easy target. After establishing bases on the continent, Hezbollah conducted two bombings in Argentina in the 1990’s. In 1992, Hezbollah attacked the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 and injuring 242. “A second bombing in 1994 targeted the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, killing 85 and [injuring] over 300.”

Although Hezbollah no longer conducts terror attacks in South America, the group is still very much involved on the continent. In fact, in recent years Hezbollah has expanded their South American operations. Today, Hezbollah is involved in the South American drug trade, dealing primarily with cocaine and heroin. In addition, the group uses the continent to produce and export “counterfeit products including everything from Ray-Bans to CDs and DVDs, pharmaceuticals to fake Sony electronics.” Political instability in addition to corruption in South America, particularly in Venezuela, has allowed Hezbollah to operate quite freely in the region. In fact, the Venezuelan government actively funds Hezbollah. Given that the Syrian Civil War has meant that Syrian support for Hezbollah is not as strong as it was and that Iran’s poor financial situation has left little room for Iran to fund Hezbollah, the organization’s “South American networks are vital to Hezbollah’s financial welfare.” Although Hezbollah is quite involved in South America, the Middle East continues to be the primary region in which Hezbollah operates.

Outside of Lebanon, Hezbollah is greatly involved in Syria. In fact, thousands of Hezbollah fighters have fought alongside Bashar al-Assad’s forces since the civil war began in 2011. Hezbollah is involved in Syria for numerous reasons, including:

1. Syria is Iran’s ally and Iran backs Hezbollah, thus Syria is a close ally of Hezbollah. By taking part in the Syrian Civil War, Hezbollah can ensure “the survival of the Assad regime.”
2. Hezbollah wants to protect and expand “its political power and influence.”
3. Hezbollah wants to stem “the spread of Sunni… groups” and defend Shia communities in the process.
4. “Iran wants to make sure that its presence in Syria is permanent.”

After years of involvement in Syria, “Hezbollah has realized that it’s nearly impossible to extricate itself from Syria.” Thus, “the organisation has started concentrating its efforts on post-war plans to establish a permanent military presence in Syria.”

Hezbollah’s multifaceted involvement in Syria, South America, and beyond is representative of Hezbollah’s multifaceted nature. While Hezbollah conducts business in South America, they are fighting a war in Syria. In this sense, looking outside of Lebanon, Hezbollah seems to act like many terrorist groups looking to expand.

How does the US view Hezbollah?

The US’ first major introduction to Hezbollah was in 1983 when the group conducted two terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of Americans. While those attacks certainly shaped Hezbollah as a terrorist group in the eyes of America, it wasn’t until the September 11th Attacks when the US ramped up its actions against Hezbollah.

Although Hezbollah did not conduct the September 11th Attacks of 2001, the attacks caused the US government to take harsher measures in limiting the capabilities of international terrorist groups, including Hezbollah. Following the attacks, the US “actively pressured Lebanon to crack down on Hezbollah’s terrorist activities,” in addition to taking action on its own. The US placed extensive sanctions on numerous Hezbollah aligned individuals and businesses, helping to weaken Hezbollah’s finances. Sanctions have been continued to be placed, and in February of 2018, the Trump Administration placed new sanctions on six people and seven businesses affiliated with Hezbollah located in Lebanon, Iraq, and West Africa.

Reasons for American actions against Hezbollah go beyond anti-terrorism sentiment. Since the days of the Iranian Revolution, which was largely based upon anti-Westernism and anti-Americanism, the relationship between the US and Iran has been bitter and at times, hostile. Being that Hezbollah was founded with Iran’s help and continues to be closely allied with Iran, limiting Hezbollah’s power equates to limiting Iran’s power. Essentially, Hezbollah’s connections to Iran give America incentive to place sanctions on the group even if the group is no longer conducting terrorist attacks that target Americans. In addition, Hezbollah has fought in the Syrian Civil War alongside Bashar al-Assad, the oppressive ruling dictator of Syria, who is an enemy of America. Finally, Hezbollah’s aggression towards Israel and its desire to obliterate Israel, a close American ally, means that the US has numerous reasons to not only designate Hezbollah as a terrorist group, but also take action against the group and attempt to weaken it.

How does the rest of the world view Hezbollah?

Falling in line with the US, the European Union added Hezbollah’s military wing to its list of terrorist organizations in July of 2013. The move was fueled by the group’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War as well as numerous terrorist attacks conducted by the group including an attack in Bulgaria that killed five Israeli tourists. While the US designated all of Hezbollah as a terrorist group, the European Union designated just Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist group. This move recognized the positive aspects of Hezbollah, namely its extensive social services which have greatly helped Lebanon’s Shia population.

In February of 2019, the UK outlawed any involvement with Hezbollah. Unlike the EU in 2013, the UK designated Hezbollah’s political and military wing as one terrorist organization. The British government cited involvement in the Syrian Civil War and terrorism as the main factors in the move. The move, along with the EU’s 2013 decision, was done largely as a result of American and Israeli pressure. The UK, EU, and the US’ generally unified stance on Hezbollah is representative of the view of the majority of the world, particularly the Western world, that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization.

Very few countries view Hezbollah positively. Syria, Iran, and Venezuela are among the very few known supporters and funders of the group. Hezbollah has greatly helped Syria and Iran, as Hezbollah actively fights for Syria and acts in many ways like an arm of Iran. The Venezuelan government has been known to support Hezbollah and has allowed the group to operate freely in the region. Beyond Syria, Iran, Venezuela, and of course Lebanon, support for Hezbollah is very minimal.

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The answer to the question of, “What is Hezbollah?” and “What does it do?” is wide ranging. While Hezbollah began as a radical Shia militant group fighting Israel, the organization has greatly expanded. Today, the group acts not only as a militant organization, but also as one of Lebanon’s most important political factions. Hezbollah provides social welfare to Lebanon’s most disadvantaged population, its Shia Muslims. The organization is actively fighting in the Syrian Civil War. Hezbollah is even involved in the South American drug trade. Clearly, Hezbollah is extremely multifaceted. Its multifaceted nature means that it is involved in numerous global conflicts. Thus, Hezbollah is crucial in understanding not only Lebanese politics but also the US-Iran conflict, Israel, the Syrian Civil War, and beyond.

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