Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, is one of the most heavily armed non-state actors globally, largely supported by Iran.
The organization this week issued a stark warning to Israel regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with the group's deputy leader, Naim Qassem, stating it is prepared for full-scale conflict if necessary.
Hezbollah emerged during Lebanon's civil war in the 1980s, initially formed to combat the Israeli occupation of South Lebanon, which lasted until the Israeli military's withdrawal in 2000.
Since then, Hezbollah's military wing has grown significantly and is considered stronger than the Lebanese national army. The group has been involved in numerous conflicts, including several major clashes with Israel, and its extensive arsenal has been a central point of regional tension.
Hezbollah's Military Capabilities
Hezbollah's military strength lies in its extensive arsenal, reported to include over 150,000 rockets and missiles. These range from unguided artillery rockets to precision-guided missiles.
Key models in their arsenal include Iranian-made Raad, Fajr, and Zilzal rockets, as well as Russian-made Katyusha rockets.
Hezbollah has also enhanced its capabilities by retrofitting unguided rockets with precision guidance systems, significantly increasing their accuracy and threat level to Israel.
The group possesses advanced anti-tank missiles, such as the Russian-made Kornet and the Iranian Toophan, a reverse-engineered version of the American TOW missile. These have proven effective against Israeli armor, particularly during the 2006 Lebanon War. Additionally, Hezbollah has occasionally used surface-to-air missiles and claimed to have downed Israeli drones, indicating some level of aerial defense capability.
Hezbollah's anti-ship capabilities include Russian-made Yakhont missiles, demonstrated by their strike on an Israeli warship in 2006. The group also uses drones for reconnaissance and offensive operations, including locally assembled Ayoub and Mersad models, which pose a challenge to Israel's Iron Dome defense system.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
The IDF comprises about 173,000 active soldiers and it has called up an additional 300,000 reservists in response to recent escalations.
Israel's military is bolstered by a substantial budget of approximately $24.3 billion and extensive support from the United States, including advanced military technology and funding.
The IDF's arsenal includes around 2,200 tanks, primarily the Merkava platform, supported by about 300 towed artillery pieces, 650 self-propelled guns, and 300 rocket artillery systems like the U.S.-developed M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.
The Israeli Air Force, considered the strongest in the region, operates advanced aircraft including Kfir fighter jets and F-35 Lightning II jets obtained from the U.S.
The IDF is also known for its special forces, such as the Sayeret Matkal unit, which plays a crucial role in counterterrorism and high-value target operations.
These forces would probably be integral in any large-scale conflict with Hezbollah, focusing on neutralizing high-ranking fighters and rescuing captured Israelis.
The IDF has a more conventional military capacity, but Hezbollah also has a significant military capability.
Newsweek spoke with William F. Wechsler, the senior director at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Program. He told Newsweek: "Hezbollah is a very well-funded military. And it's battle hardened."
He argues that the situation facing Israel and Lebanon is "fundamentally different" to when the two countries were at war in 2006.
"Hezbollah has captured the state," he said. "Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. But it is also the defining government. It calls the shots for governance."
Hezbollah has infiltrated the Lebanese armed forces to such a degree that they should be seen as a unit of Hezbollah rather than an arm of the state, he added.
Hezbollah's estimated 200,000 projectiles exceed the number held by Hamas by a significant margin.
The group has been described as possessing military capabilities comparable to an average European state, with sophisticated weaponry and battle-hardened fighters trained alongside Russian and Iranian forces.
The IDF benefits from technology, comprehensive support infrastructure, and a well-organized command structure.
Israel's defense budget and advanced military hardware give it a significant advantage in conventional warfare. However, Hezbollah's ability to launch extensive rocket barrages, conduct guerrilla warfare, and use human shields presents a unique and challenging threat to Israeli security.
Wechsler told Newsweek: "Israel is stronger than Hamas. It should be in everyone's interest that Israel be massively stronger than Hamas.
"Israel has the ability to kill every Palestinian in Gaza. The fact that they haven't in the decades they've had this ability says something about Israeli objectives. Hezbollah doesn't have the ability to kill every person in Israel. But it does have the potential ability to do real damage to Israel and kill a lot of people in Israel.
"Hezbollah's goal is to kill civilians. Israel's goal is to avoid that if possible."
What's Next?
The potential for conflict between Hezbollah and Israel remains high, with both sides poised for significant military engagement. Wechsler told Newsweek that: "There will be another war between Israel and Hezbollah. That's a given, given the nature of Hezbollah."
Displacement in Lebanon may be a contributing factor to potential conflict and involvement from Israel. Wechsler said that "you've seen a large number of Lebanese people move out of the south, unlike in Gaza where there's limited space for people to move to, there's a lot of space in Lebanon for people to move to."
"Presumably the decision was made not to attack Lebanon in October because of the massive number of innocent Lebanese that would have died," Wechsler said. He continued that Hezbollah use a similar tactic to Hamas, and "intentionally puts their weaponry inside of civilian targets." But as "civilian populations have moved" the argument to not attack Lebanon because of this is "diminished," Wechsler said.
He also told Newsweek that: "Unlike the Palestinians in the West Bank, who can feel threatened by Israeli encroachment, Israel doesn't have aspirations to Lebanese territory. If it wasn't for Hezbollah, Israel would have fine relations with Lebanon."
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About the writer
Marni Rose McFall is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. politics, social affairs and ... Read more
