Israel and Hezbollah have fought multiple wars since the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group was formed in the 1980s as a guerrilla force fighting against Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon at the time. Hezbollah’s decision to resume the war startled and angered many in Lebanon — including from within the group’s Shiite base — who accused the group of giving Israel an excuse to escalate. The collapse of the Islamic Republic would “basically mean the death of Hezbollah as a project.” Furthermore, had Hezbollah not entered the fray, Hage Ali said, the militant group expected that Israel would still have likely launched an offensive against it sooner or later.
Author: AP- PTI
Published at: 2026-03-18 23:33:11
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