On Saturday, 12 children and young people were killed in an attack on the Golan Heights, which is annexed by Israel. Israel and Hezbollah have fired at each other daily since the war in the Gaza Strip began. Often the rockets fly over the village of Majdal Shams. Israel believes Hezbollah is behind the attack, while Hezbollah denies it. Mourners carry the coffin of 11-year-old Guevara Ibrahim who was killed in the attack on the Israeli-occupied town of Majdal Shams. Photo: AFP In any case, Netanyahu has promised a strong response. Now several people fear that the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel could escalate. On Tuesday evening, the Israeli military confirms that it has attacked a hideout for Hezbollah. How will Hezbollah respond? The international community has asked the parties to calm down the conflict on the border, for fear of a major regional war. news has spoken to two experts. Amal Saad, Lebanese political analyst and professor at Cardiff University. Hilal Khashan, Lebanese political scientist at The American University in Beirut. In 1982, the same year that neighboring Israel invaded and occupied parts of Lebanon, young Lebanese Shiite Muslims formed Hezbollah, the “Party of God”. Israel’s goal with the occupation was to weaken the PLO, i.e. the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was based in southern Lebanon. The PLO had to move its headquarters, but Israel remained in Lebanon. A large part of Hezbollah’s ideology was, and still is, built on fighting Israel. And they are not alone in this. A mother arrives at Nasser Hospital with her son after Israeli forces attacked Khan Younis on July 24. Photo: BASHAR TALEB / AFP Hezbollah is an important part of the so-called “axis of resistance”, as Iran and several militias call themselves. They fight against Israel and its occupation of Palestinian territories. Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon was lifted in 2000, but there has been constant unrest on the border. First, what is Hezbollah? Saad: Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim armed group, says Saad. – They are also a major political party in Lebanon. They took up arms after Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, and have since remained armed. Hezbollah has both a political and a military wing. The military wing is on the terrorist list by both the EU and the US. Khashan: Although Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shiite group, Khashan believes it is important to remember that it is primarily an Iranian creation. Hilal Khashan believes Hezbollah is led by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. – The outward leader is Hassan Nasrallah, but the real commander-in-chief is Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. – Iran wants to be a regional actor, and the best way to become one is by getting involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Khashan believes. What kind of role does Hezbollah play in Lebanon? Saad: Hezbollah has a clear political presence in Lebanon. They have people in important positions in government, and are responsible for a number of social services, says Saad. – They also cooperate with the Lebanese army. Hezbollah decides everything to do with Israel, and most often the Lebanese authorities support their decisions. Khashan: Hezbollah grew large during Israel’s occupation of Lebanon, including in parts of society that were not Shia. Today, support for Hezbollah among the people is limited to a group of Shia Muslims, says Khashan. He believes that when the conflict with Israel will eventually subside, Hezbollah will face a lot of pressure from the Lebanese. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is known for his long and passionate TV speeches. Fearing for his own life, he never meets physically. Photo: Reuters Although Hezbollah has political influence, the sectarian system of government does not work in the country. It is riddled with corruption and discord. The country has no president and the economy is in shambles. Now the Lebanese also fear that Hezbollah is leading the country into a war with Israel. – So this is existential for them? – Yes, they did not need to create this front against Israel. A front that has neither helped Hamas nor removed any of the military pressure on the Gaza Strip, which was the purpose. Who does Hezbollah collaborate with outside of Lebanon? Both Saad and Khashan agree that Iran is Hezbollah’s closest ally. And Iran’s friends are Hezbollah’s friends. Therefore, Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen, the Assad regime in Syria and Shia militias in Iraq are considered Hezbollah’s allies. Saad: Hezbollah is, after all, in the so-called axis of resistance. CANCELED: Several airlines have canceled departures to the capital Beirut in Lebanon after the latest attack. Photo: Thomson Reuters (Do not use this version of the image) – Iran is spearheading here, but I think Hezbollah is the backbone. Iran provides a lot of money and weapons, but Hezbollah coordinates militarily between the non-state groups and has the most influence. Will this lead to another war? Although the friction between Hezbollah and Israel gives them existential legitimacy, neither has expressed a desire to escalate the conflict into an all-out war. Saad does not think a further escalation is in either of their interests: – In that case it will be difficult for Israel, because they are also at war with Hamas, and I don’t think they have enough ammunition for that, says the political analyst. Khashan: I think Israel will respond and that Israel will hurt Hezbollah, but not that it will lead to a war. – At some point, I think Hezbollah will stop the attacks against Israel, says Khashan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised “a strong response” after the attack at the weekend. Photo: Reuters He believes that at some point Hezbollah will have to choose between withdrawing from the border areas in the south, or risking that Israel will drive them out. – But Nasrallah has been clear that they will attack Israel as long as there is a war on the Gaza Strip? – He made these promises, and I think he regrets that. They joined the war in solidarity with Hamas, but he probably didn’t think the war would last that long. Published 30.07.2024, at 19.43 Updated 30.07.2024, at 19.57
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Who is Hezbollah, and could there be war between them and Israel? – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
