The Increasing Power of Hezbollah; A Historical Analysis of Its Formation and Regional Influence

Lebanon’s contemporary history represents a complex tapestry of political, social, and military transformations, with Hezbollah emerging as a pivotal actor in this intricate narrative. The formation of this resistance movement was not a singular event but a culmination of interconnected historical processes driven by foreign interventions, regional conflicts, and local resistance movements. The 1980s and 1990s marked a critical period characterized by persistent regional tensions that ultimately facilitated Hezbollah’s rise. Lebanon was engulfed in a civil war from 1975 to 1990, creating a volatile environment where multiple factors converged to shape the political landscape. The Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, persistent foreign military interventions, and deep-seated sectarian conflicts provided a fertile ground for resistance movements to develop. The geopolitical context of Lebanon during this period was marked by complex interactions between various internal and external actors. Foreign forces, including American and French peacekeeping missions, Israeli military interventions, and Palestinian resistance groups, created a multifaceted conflict zone. These interventions disrupted Lebanon’s political equilibrium, generating widespread public resentment and creating opportunities for resistance movements like Hezbollah to emerge and gain support. Hezbollah distinguished itself by developing a comprehensive approach to resistance that extended far beyond military confrontation. The organization simultaneously challenged foreign interventions, provided critical social services, developed robust political infrastructure, and effectively mobilized community support. By positioning itself as a defender of Lebanese sovereignty and Palestinian rights, Hezbollah transformed from a marginal resistance group into a powerful political and military organization that would significantly reshape Lebanon’s political landscape. The emergence and increasing power of Hezbollah represents more than a localized political phenomenon; it symbolizes a broader narrative of resistance, identity, and transformation in a region marked by persistent conflict and external interventions. Understanding the factors that contributed to its formation and strength requires a nuanced examination of the complex historical, social, and political dynamics that defined Lebanon during this tumultuous period.

Examining the Role of Certain Historical Factors in the Formation and Increasing Power of Hezbollah in Lebanon

Hezbollah is one of the most formidable and influential resistance groups, currently playing a central role in Lebanon’s politics and regional developments. Various factors have contributed to its establishment and increasing power. These factors often seem unpleasant, but their outcomes ultimately benefit Hezbollah. To study the history of Hezbollah’s formation and strengthening, we must study the contemporary history of Lebanon.

Lebanon’s contemporary history has witnessed deep and complex conflicts that have not only had direct impacts on the country’s internal situation but also reflected regional and global tensions. Developments in Lebanon during the 1980s and 1990s were influenced by a series of interrelated events, with each of these events directly or indirectly impacting the occurrence of subsequent ones. Key events such as the successive explosions in 1983, the establishment of Hezbollah in 1985, the assassination of Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi in 1992, and the “Operation Grapes of Wrath” in 1996 stand as the pivotal and interconnected events in Lebanon’s recent history.

The 1983 successive explosions, triggered by foreign military interventions, fueled public resentment against the presence of American and French forces, thereby invigorating the spirit of resistance and drawing individuals to resistance groups, contributing to the formation and fortification of Hezbollah. The establishment of Hezbollah in 1985 was a response to the military interventions and occupation by Israel in southern Lebanon.

The leadership and influence of figures like Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi played a significant role in the establishment and increasing power of Hezbollah. Under the leadership of Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi, Hezbollah managed to organize its forces and resist the Israeli occupation. Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi, as a strong theorist and influential leader, played a crucial role in strengthening the spirit of resistance and the ideology of Hezbollah.

By assassinating resistance leaders, the Israeli regime sought to weaken this front. However, these actions had the opposite effect, strengthening Hezbollah and mobilizing public support for the group. The martyrdom of Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi influenced the morale and motivation of Hezbollah members and other resistance groups, acting as a force for the ongoing resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Israel, through various criminal operations, including “Operation Grapes of Wrath” in Qana, sought to increase its aggression and advance its presence in Lebanese territory, weaken Hezbollah’s power, and dismantle the military installations and infrastructure of this group. Israel, by portraying itself as a victim, justified its purpose for conducting this operation as a defensive measure to defend Israeli citizens against Hezbollah’s attacks, but in an act of extreme ruthlessness, it massacred civilians, escalating tensions further. After this operation, global outrage against Israel intensified, and Hezbollah’s position as the defender of the Lebanese was strengthened.

The Role of the 1983 Beirut Bombings in the Formation and Increasing Power of Hezbollah

Lebanon is a land that has been embroiled in various challenges, tensions, conflicts, and wars for many years. In each period of time, one or more specific factors have significantly influenced this country’s economic, political, military, cultural, and social conditions. In 1983, during a time when Lebanon was caught in a civil war, bombings occurred that had profound and multifaceted effects on the parties, groups, and forces involved in the internal conflict. These bombings not only marked the height of political and military tensions in Lebanon but also signaled the rise of resistance movements, including Hezbollah. It is no exaggeration to say that the 1983 bombings played a pivotal role in the formation and increasing power of Hezbollah.

The bombings on April 18 and October 23, 1983, took place at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon and the headquarters of American and French peacekeeping forces, respectively. Since these explosions took place in areas where foreign and multinational forces were stationed, it is crucial to understand the reasons behind their presence in Lebanon.

Lebanon was embroiled in a civil war from 1975 to 1990. Various factors contributed to the outbreak and escalation of this war, including Israel’s occupation of Palestine, the migration of Palestinian refugees to Lebanon, national and religious rivalries between Shia and Sunni Muslims, Druze, and Christians, including the Phalangists, as well as the presence of foreign forces, Israeli troops, and Palestinian resistance factions, including the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The internal crises and wars in Lebanon led to the inefficiency of the central government and the rise in influence of armed groups. Alongside Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon and the occupation of parts of this region, the United Nations passed Resolution 425 in 1978, which called for the deployment of peacekeeping forces to Lebanon [1]. Apparently, the primary goal of these forces was to maintain peace and security, prevent the escalation of conflicts in the region, restore the Lebanese government’s control over the occupied areas, and supervise the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

The presence of foreign forces disrupted Lebanon’s political equations. Some Lebanese parties, including the ruling Phalangists, opposed the presence of Palestinian refugees and Palestinian resistance forces in Lebanon. On the other hand, resistance groups, including Hezbollah, which was on the verge of formation, were opposed to the presence of foreign forces in Lebanon.

The 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre can be seen as one of the key reasons for the Lebanese resistance’s opposition to foreign forces and one of the major factors behind the attacks on American forces and the bombings of 1983. The horrific crime committed by the Phalangists with the support of Israel and foreign forces, including Americans, against Palestinian refugees sparked widespread public outrage against these forces. However, this resentment was not solely due to the Sabra and Shatila massacre; it was also fueled by other Israeli and American aggressions and attacks.

The 1983 bombings had various outcomes and reactions, some of which altered the policies governing Lebanon. After these events, the United States, feeling the threat and insecurity in the region, decided to reduce its military presence in Lebanon and eventually withdrew its forces. These bombings highlighted the inability of foreign forces to secure Lebanon, despite their initial mission to do so.

These bombings also intensified the security crisis and instability in Lebanon, leading to increased tensions and public insecurity. They paved the way for the establishment and influence of resistance groups like Hezbollah. At the time, Hezbollah had not yet formally begun its activities, but after these bombings, it emerged as a major resistance force in Lebanon and garnered widespread support from the Shia community and other segments of Lebanese society. The formation and increasing power of Hezbollah as a national resistance force occurred at a time when foreign forces were still dominant and ruling over the land.

America’s interventionist policies in Lebanon and the Middle East have not yet come to an end, and their influence can still be seen today in the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Dr. Paul Pillar, a former member of the CIA, in protest against U.S. policies, referred to the 1983 bombings in Lebanon and warned of the consequences of American involvement in Israel’s current wars and the similar costs the U.S. might face by becoming embroiled in these conflicts.

The History of Hezbollah’s Establishment

Lebanese Hezbollah, or the Party of God, is one of the most prominent and influential resistance movements in the history of the Middle East. The formation and increasing power of Hezbollah are directly linked to the civil war and the state of Lebanon during these turbulent times. In the early 1980s, Lebanon was highly unstable and unsafe due to the civil wars and the intervention of foreign forces, particularly Israel, leading to widespread anger and protests among people. These conditions created an opportunity for the formation of resistance groups.

The chaos and disorder resulting from the civil war turned Lebanon into a battleground for regional and international rivalries. In 1982, the Israeli army invaded Lebanon with the objective of expelling the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and occupied southern Lebanon.

Various groups were involved in the Lebanese civil war, each with different objectives. However, Hezbollah stood out as a resistance group with national, religious, and humanitarian goals. The party was established to defend Lebanon’s independence and the rights of its people, fight against Israeli occupation and Western influence in the region, and defend Palestine.

Hezbollah officially announced its existence in a statement in 1985, although it had begun unofficial activities earlier. According to one of the clauses in the “Taif Agreement,” which called for the disbanding and disarmament of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, the Lebanese government declared the dissolution of all militias except Hezbollah in 1991.

The core members of Hezbollah were previously part of the Amal Movement but later split from it and officially declared their existence as a new movement under the name Hezbollah. One of the reasons for this separation was the emphasis some members placed on the ideology of resistance and a specific approach to fighting against Israel. According to Hezbollah’s objectives and principles, as well as its powerful role in regional events, the formation and increasing power of Hezbollah can be considered one of the most significant developments in the political, social, and military history of the Middle East. They had a considerable impact on resistance struggles against Israel.

This party aimed to end Israel’s military presence in Lebanon, support the rights of Palestinian people, and ensure the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland. Despite prioritizing military goals, Hezbollah did not overlook political, economic, and social objectives. To achieve these goals and promote welfare and social justice, Hezbollah established educational, healthcare, and social institutions in Shia-populated areas and regions occupied by Israel.

Hezbollah’s military successes and social services, including building schools and hospitals and distributing financial aid, boosted its popularity among Shia communities and other Lebanese groups. Hezbollah not only gained significant social popularity and widespread public support but also gradually strengthened its power and influence in the political sphere. Today, it stands as one of the key forces within Lebanon’s government and parliament.

The formation and increasing power of Hezbollah significantly strengthened the resistance front against Israel. The central ideology of Hezbollah is resistance, standing against oppression, and fighting for justice against injustice. To Hezbollah, Israel is seen as a source of evil and oppression, a violator of human rights, and a colonial regime with racist ideologies. Thus, combating this regime and its occupation is seen as a religious and humanitarian duty for Hezbollah and others who value religion and humanity.

The formation and increasing power of Hezbollah led to the emergence of prominent fighters like Martyr Sayyed Abbas Mousavi and Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who significantly influenced the resistance front. Today, Hezbollah continues to train resilient fighters and reinforce the ideology and front of resistance.

The Role of Seyyed Abbas Mousavi’s Martyrdom in the Increasing Power of Hezbollah in Lebanon

Martyr Seyyed Abbas Mousavi was a prominent religious and political figure in Lebanon’s contemporary history and a key player in the resistance movement. He dedicated his life to opposing Israeli occupation and supporting the rights of Palestinian people, playing an active role during the years of U.S. and Israeli presence in Lebanon.

As a symbol of resistance in Lebanon, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi consistently stood at the forefront of the resistance front. In addition to his military persona, he was also recognized as a religious and social leader in Lebanon’s history. One of the founding members of Hezbollah, Mousavi became the party’s second Secretary-General in 1991, a few years after its establishment. Martyr Mousavi, as one of Hezbollah’s primary theorists, played a significant and influential role in shaping the ideals and objectives of resistance, as well as formulating its strategic framework.

Seyyed Abbas Mousavi was instrumental in the formation and strengthening of Hezbollah. Under his leadership, Hezbollah became a formidable military force and carried out successful operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. He placed significant emphasis on armed struggle against Israel.

A year after his election as Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, on February 16, 1992, while returning from a memorial ceremony for Sheikh Ragheb Harb, Israeli military helicopters targeted Mousavi’s convoy of vehicles in southern Lebanon. This attack resulted in the martyrdom of Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, his wife, their young son, and several of his companions. His martyrdom became a major turning point in the history of Hezbollah and the Middle East.

Seyyed Abbas Mousavi had a profound impact on the resistance front. Through his use of social and cultural resources, he sought to strengthen unity among various factions of resistance. His martyrdom further invigorated the spirit of resistance and fostered solidarity among diverse resistance groups.

Israel’s objective in assassinating Seyyed Abbas Mousavi was to weaken Hezbollah’s military and ideological leadership and to undermine the resistance movement in southern Lebanon. However, the events following his martyrdom demonstrated that Israel failed to achieve these goals. On the contrary, his martyrdom significantly strengthened the resistance and its ideology. As Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei remarked in his condolence message following Mousavi’s martyrdom: “The innocent blood of this great and dear martyr and his oppressed companions will make the righteous struggle of the people of Lebanon and Palestine against the Zionist occupiers more resolute and profound” [2].

The martyrdom of Seyyed Abbas Mousavi deeply reinforced Hezbollah’s ideology and resistance spirit. It heightened the resolve and determination to continue the fight against Israeli occupation and led to greater mobilization of Hezbollah members. Additionally, it strengthened Hezbollah’s military and political identity and power, and increased its legitimacy among the Lebanese population.

In immediate response to the assassination, Hezbollah intensified its attacks on Israeli forces along Israel’s northern borders. The party quickly appointed Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah as its new Secretary-General, under whose leadership Hezbollah gradually gained more power and influence. Under Nasrallah’s leadership, Hezbollah not only maintained its military activities but also expanded its social and political networks within Lebanon.

The remarks of Supreme leader of Iran about the Resistance Front reflect a reality that has existed in the past regarding this front and its ideology and continues to this day. “The resistance is not a hardware that can be broken, dismantled, or destroyed. Resistance is faith, thought, a firm and heartfelt decision; it is an ideological school. Faith cannot be undermined through pressure—it only grows stronger.”

The assassination of Seyyed Abbas Mousavi escalated military confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel, ultimately leading to Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. However, before its withdrawal, Israel carried out brutal attacks on civilians, including the infamous “Grapes of Wrath” operation in Qana.

The Impact of the “Grapes of Wrath” Operation on the Increasing Power of Hezbollah

The “Operation Grapes of Wrath Operation” was one of the major military campaigns conducted by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon. It began on April 11, 1996, and lasted for sixteen days. This operation was ostensibly a response to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israeli towns, but this was merely a pretext. Israel had repeatedly violated Lebanese territory before, committing horrific atrocities. Operations such as the “Operation Litani,” “Operation Peace for Galilee,” and “Operation Accountability” were just some of the crimes Israel perpetrated against Lebanon.

One of the primary objectives of Israel in the “Grapes of Wrath” operation was to weaken Hezbollah’s military capabilities and put an end to its rocket attacks on northern Israel. Israel also claimed to be seeking to restore peace and security for Israeli citizens in the northern regions.

The attack on Qana, carried out on April 18, 1996, was a pivotal moment during the “Grapes of Wrath” operation. Qana was one of the areas where many civilians had sought refuge. In this attack, Israeli warplanes bombed a gathering of refugees in Qana, killing over 100 people, most of whom were civilians.

This attack caused not only significant human casualties but also provoked a severe international backlash. Images of the corpses of children and civilians, broadcast globally, placed immense pressure on Israel. The Qana massacre also significantly contributed to the increasing power of Hezbollah and amplifying anti-Israeli sentiment in the region. Contrary to Israel’s goal of diminishing Hezbollah’s power, the operation indirectly bolstered Hezbollah’s image as a resilient resistance force.

The “Grapes of Wrath” operation led to Hezbollah being perceived as the champion of resistance against Israeli occupation and aggression, particularly among the Shiite population of southern Lebanon. Israel’s attacks on civilian areas and the resulting heavy human losses increased public support for Hezbollah, solidifying its position as a resistance movement. Hezbollah successfully positioned itself as the defender of the Lebanese nation against foreign aggression, leading to greater popular support for the party in subsequent years.

The Qana massacre, like other atrocities committed by the Zionist regime, was carried out with the support and strategic planning of the United States. In a statement addressing this atrocity, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei exposed the true nature of the war and identified the perpetrators. He declared:

What has taken place in Lebanon has exposed the true meaning of American human rights to all nations and has shown what the new Middle East pursued by the United States is in reality.

Today, it has become clear to everybody that the aggression against Lebanon has been a premeditated plot and an American-Zionist measure, taken as a major step toward dominating the Middle East and the Islamic world. Bush and his American colleagues are as culpable in the tragedies of Lebanon as the wicked and disgraced officials of the Zionist regime.

The silence on the part of the United Nations and most Western governments and the support extended by certain governments such as the notorious British government will also make them to various degrees culpable and complicit in these tragic incidents in the judgment of the humanity both today and tomorrow and in the great divine reckoning and retribution [3].

This analysis of events such as the 1983 bombings, the martyrdom of Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, and the “Grapes of Wrath” operation in Qana provides insight into the history of the formation and increasing power of Hezbollah. Each of these events influenced subsequent developments and played a role in the increasing power of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, as one of the largest and most effective resistance movements, was born and grew out of bloodshed and war. This reality underscores the fact that no factor—including war, assassination, bombings, or massacres—can halt Hezbollah’s forward progress. As Ayatollah Khamenei has stated, after every tragedy and disaster, Hezbollah’s attacks, strength, and resilience have only grown stronger than before.

Conclusion

Hezbollah’s trajectory from a marginalized resistance group to a significant political and military force demonstrates the complex dynamics of power formation in the Middle East. The organization’s success can be attributed to its ability to adapt to changing political landscapes, leverage public sentiment, and develop robust social and military infrastructures. Key factors that contributed to the increasing power of Hezbollah include: Strategic response to foreign interventions, strong ideological foundations, effective leadership, comprehensive social service networks, and military resilience against Israeli occupation. The formation and increasing power of Hezbollah represent more than a local political phenomenon; they symbolize a broader narrative of resistance, identity, and transformation in a region marked by persistent conflict and external interventions.

References

[1]. UNIFIL; United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

[2]. “Imam Khamenei’s Speech,” 1992, February 17.

[3]. Leader’s Message on Condemnation of the Zionist Regime’s Crimes in Lebanon.” Khamenei.ir, 1 Aug. 2006.