Can anyone give me a background on Hezbollah?

Question

I'm trying to understand this conflict. I must admit I've never heard of this group from Lebanon. I'm not interested in what you've read in the newspaper, I can do that. Is this conflict a new one? Or an old one? Details please.

Perfect, the world is close to global war and all I get is three answers.

Answer 1

Hezbollah is not the government of Lebanon

Its spiritual leader is Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, and its senior political leader is Hassan Nazrallah, who has held the title of secretary general since 1992. Its military arm is known as Islamic Resistance.

Hezbollah (Arabic: حزب الله‎, meaning Party of God) is an umbrella organization of radical Shiite group founded in early 1982 to combat Israeli, French and American troops in Lebanon. It is supported by Iran and Syria and located in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah are Shiite Muslims as are most Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians and some Yemenis, Pakistanis and Bahrainians. Diplomatic efforts are aimed at getting the Sunni Muslim countries to negotiate. This includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Hezbollah gained popular support by providing social services such as hospitals and schools for Lebanese Shiites. Hezbollah was able to step into the power breach created by Lebanon’s weak government. Hezbollah has pursued a political and religious agenda that centers on the destruction of Israel and opposition to the United States and has been carried out through terrorism against Israeli and Western targets. In 1983 Hezbollah killed 241 US marines in Beirut. Syria admits supporting Hezbollah, but denies arming the group.

Hezbollah’s official rhetoric calls for the destruction of Israel and its replacement with an Islamist Palestinian government. Initially, the group sought to replace Lebanon’s secular government with an Iranian-style Islamic government.

Hezbollah maximizes Israeli civilian casualties when they launch Syrian and Iranian designed antipersonnel missiles with ball-bearing shrapnel. Furthermore, in Lebanon, Hezbollah deliberately operates military wings out of densely populated areas to maximize Lebanese casualties. It seems that Hezbollah wants to maximize civilian casualties on BOTH sides.

On Beirut Al-Manar TV Lebanese President Emile Lahhud expressed his support for Hezbollah leader, Al-Sayyid [Hasan] Nasrallah. The Lebanese government could have chosen to expel Hezbollah.

The ground war in Lebanon began Friday, July 21st. Several Israeli brigades now appear to be operating between the Lebanese border and the Litani River. According to reports, Hezbollah forces are dispersed in multiple bunker complexes and are launching rockets from these and other locations. Hezbollah strategy is to draw Israeli troops as deeply into Lebanon as possible, forcing them to fight on extended supply lines. In order to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure, Israeli troops must move into the Bekaa Valley and as far as the southern suburbs of Beirut. Simply occupying the border-Litani area will not achieve any of Israel's strategic goals. The war has begun at Hezbollah's time and choosing.

The first point to bear in mind is that the crisis did not truly begin with the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah's Operation True Promise . The kidnappings presented a serious problem for Israel, but could not, by themselves, define the geopolitical issue. That definition came when Hezbollah rockets struck Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, on July 13. There were also claims coming from Hezbollah, and confirmed by Israeli officials, that Hezbollah had missiles available that could reach Tel Aviv. Israel's population is concentrated in the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem corridor and in the Tel Aviv-Haifa corridor. In effect, Hezbollah had attained the ability to strike at the Israeli heartland. Hezbollah has been hitting the northern part of this heartland, as well as pounding Israel's northern frontier.

Formerly, Syria had troops in Lebanon. When Syria withdrew its troops Hezbollah could operate freely.

Hezbollah has indicated that it will bombard Tel-Aviv, Israel with 500 missiles. So far, Hezbollah has used Kassam and Ketuysha rockets. It has not used the Zelzal or Fajr missiles, yet which have longer range. Israel is committed to ferreting out the missiles and destroying them. This will be costly to both sides in casualties.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said on MEMRI TV the volcano of rage of the people in the region is on the brink of eruption...it will not be limited to this region.

The ground war has begun. Israel first conducted massive air strikes and sent special forces troops into Lebanon to ferret out strongholds and weapons. Many of these are located in tunnels.


Early in the morning on July 21st, IDF ground forces were operating in the area of the Karni crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. In a military engagement just over the border of Lebanon Israeli soldiers of the Egoz regiment discovered one of the many fortified bunkers holding the large arsenal of missiles currently raining upon Israeli towns in the North. Several Israeli brigades now appear to be operating between the Lebanese border and the Litani River. According to reports, Hezbollah forces are dispersed in multiple bunker complexes and are launching rockets from these and other locations. Hezbollah has implemented its strategy by turning southern Lebanon into a military stronghold, consisting of well-designed bunkers that serve both as fire bases and launch facilities for rockets.

Hezbollah's strategy seems to be to draw Israeli troops as deeply into Lebanon as possible, forcing them to fight on extended supply lines. In order to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure, Israeli troops must move into the Bekaa Valley and as far as the southern suburbs of Beirut. The war has begun at Hezbollah's time and choosing.

The United Nations has called for a ceasefire and wishes to oversee the peace

Answer 2

Terrorist organization funded by Iran. Recently, Hezbollah politicians (like Hamas politicians in Palestine) were elected to positions in Syria and Lebanon politics. Some people, myself included, think the "cause and effect" of that movement towards the mainstream is tied to Bush's invasion of Iraq, which turned the Arab "street" against the US and toward the terrorists.

Others, however, like to scream and shout about Bush being right about everything. Go figure.

Answer 3

possibly a eco-friendly colored reproduction of the flag couldnt be received even as the video became made, so they had to apply a black colored one instead. It nevertheless represents Hezbollah and that i'm certain all people on the floor who observed that structure on the flag ought to word of it.

Answer 4

Terrorist orginzation, that's all that needs to be said.

Answer 5

They are a terrorist orginzation, thats what i know.

Answer 6

ya they really powerful u know ..google/wiki-it