Why in news?

The Israel Defense Forces killed Hasan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah — the Iran-backed armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

Nasrallah remained in charge of Hezbollah for more than 32 years. He played a key role in building the group into the potent force and was one of the most influential and best-known figures in the Middle East.

What’s in today’s article?

• Hezbollah
• Why are Israel and Hezbollah fighting?
• Key takeaways from Israel’s attack on Hezbollah chief

Hezbollah

• Hezbollah was formed in 1982 as a Shia resistance group with support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.
  • Israel aimed to expel the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) from Lebanon and succeeded in relocating the PLO to Tunisia and establishing a buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
  • However, the invasion spurred the rise of Hezbollah, which became a long-term security threat to Israel.
• Historically marginalized in Lebanon, the Shia community reorganized under Hezbollah, which now operates as a powerful political, military, and social force.
• The group has a political party with parliamentarians, provides social services to poorer sections, and commands a strong military unit backed by Iran, with fighters and a range of missiles.

Why are Israel and Hezbollah fighting?

• Hezbollah’s core purpose is resistance against Israel, with the destruction of Israel stated in its manifesto.
• Regarded as a terrorist organization by Israel and the U.S., Hezbollah is credited for forcing Israel to end its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.
• The last full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah occurred in 2006 after a Hezbollah cross-border raid led to an Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
• The latest conflict flared after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
  • In response to Israel’s retaliation on Gaza, Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.
• This ongoing border conflict has displaced 70,000 Israelis, with tensions escalating after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in a Beirut airstrike, leading to intensified rocket attacks from Hezbollah.

Key takeaways from Israel’s attack on Hezbollah chief

• A seismic episode
  • Hasan Nasrallah, 64, was Hezbollah’s leader for over three decades, and his assassination by Israeli forces is seen as a pivotal event, likened to the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs.
  • Nasrallah became Hezbollah’s leader in 1992 after the assassination of Abbas al-Musawi by Israel.
  • Under his leadership, Hezbollah forced Israel to withdraw from Lebanon after wars in 2000 and 2006.
  • Nasrallah's Hezbollah harassed Israel after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks, leading to the evacuation of 63,000 Israelis.
  • His death eliminates one of Israel’s most significant military threats.
• Half of Hezbollah's leadership council eliminated
  • Recently, targeted blasts by Israel killed or severely injured around 3,500 middle-to-senior Hezbollah leaders who used pagers and walkie-talkies for secure communication.
    • These leaders, holding ranks equivalent to Colonel to General, were crucial for decision-making, organizing retaliatory strikes, and countering Israeli threats.
  • The crippling of this leadership tier likely explains Hezbollah’s inability to launch counter-attacks following Israel’s aerial strikes in southern Lebanon and Beirut.
  • This disruption in command and control weakened Hezbollah's decision-making and intelligence-sharing.
• A power moment for Israel
  • The Axis of Resistance is Iran’s term for the groups targeting Israel, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen.
  • Hezbollah, the strongest of this group, has launched over 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since Hamas's attacks last year.
  • The assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah marks the peak of Israel’s campaign against the group's leadership, which began with the killing of Fuad Shukr in July.
    • Israel has also eliminated Hamas's political head, Ismail Haniyeh, and the military commander behind the October 7 attacks, Mohammed Deif, leaving only Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar alive.
  • Meanwhile, the Houthis are a smaller group with limited capabilities, mainly targeting international maritime traffic in the Red Sea.
• Significant moment for Lebanon as well
  • Hezbollah has long been the most powerful force in Lebanon, dominating both militarily and politically, with strongholds in Beirut and extensive military assets in rural areas.
  • Its mass support, largely due to its charitable activities and propaganda, has significantly waned since 2019, when large-scale protests erupted against Lebanon’s corrupt establishment, of which Hezbollah is seen as a part.
  • While Nasrallah’s killing sparked street protests by his mourners, it also offers Lebanon a chance to reduce Hezbollah’s grip on the country, potentially easing its influence over national affairs.
• Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iran to have a key role in coming days
  • It remains uncertain whether Nasrallah's killing will escalate the West Asian crisis or lead to a de-escalation.
  • Countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are closely monitoring developments, particularly Iran's potential response—whether it will retaliate and prolong the conflict or allow tensions to ease.
  • Another key issue is the stalled hostage deal, with 101 hostages still held by Hamas, some feared dead. Their release could signal a possible end to the conflict.
• India wants early return of peace in the region
  • New Delhi, like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, seeks stability in West Asia to resume connectivity projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and focus on regional prosperity.
  • India's primary concerns are the safety of around 9 million Indians living in the West Asian and Gulf regions, as well as energy security, with two-thirds of its crude oil and natural gas coming from this area.
  • A broader conflict would threaten both.
  • New Delhi is closely monitoring Israel and Iran's next moves and has issued security advisories for Lebanon amid the ongoing tensions.