How strong is Hezbollah?

Last Updated on August 28, 2024 7:52 am

Since the attack by Hamas, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has started attacking Israel. The level of violence has increased on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Hezbollah means party of God. In the early eighties, Hezbollah was formed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The objective was to spread the Islamic movement in Lebanon and fight against the Israelis who attacked there. Hizbullah was originally formed by Shia Muslims.

Hezbollah fought its biggest war with Israel in 2006. During the 34-day war with Israel, more than 1,125 people died in Lebanon, most of whom were civilians.

In contrast, 164 people, mostly soldiers, died in Israel. Since then, the group has tried to increase its capacity.

Reuters reports that since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Hezbollah to fight Sunni rebels in 2012, its military capabilities have increased.

Most Western countries, including Israel, have banned the group.

How strong is Hezbollah?

Considering the possibility that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah eventually escalates into an all-out war, one can see just how powerful their military might actually be!

Although not a state force, Hezbollah is one of the most modern armed forces in the world. In fact, they are the most powerful of such forces, and are funded and armed by Iran.

According to Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah’s claim, they have about 100,000 fighters. Although this number is said to be between 20 and 50 thousand according to various neutral sources.

These Hezbollah members are military trained and have combat experience. Many of them also fought in the Syrian civil war.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a strategic thinktank, Hezbollah has about 130,000 rockets and missiles. Much of their arsenal consists of small-scale, unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets.

However, Hezbollah is also believed to have anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Apart from that, there are several ‘guided’ missiles, which are capable of striking deep into Israel.

Compared to the weapons that Hamas has in Gaza, Hezbollah’s arsenal is far more sophisticated and devastating.