COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Written By : Kali Robinson
Last updated October 14, 2023
Military experience gained from fighting in Syria’s civil war and decades of clashes with Israel has strengthened the Iran-backed group, but politically, its clout among Lebanon’s populace may be waning.
Members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah take part in Ashura commemorations in a southern Beirut suburb. Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images
Summary
- Hezbollah wields significant power in Lebanon, where it operates as both a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group.
- It opposes Israel and Western powers operating in the Middle East, and it functions as a proxy of Iran, its largest benefactor.
- The group has faced unprecedented scrutiny from the Lebanese public amid the country’s political and economic crisis.