Hezbollah has both political and military wings both of which are designated by several countries as terror organisations. It emerged several decades ago in Lebanon. Since Israel launched its war in Gaza in the wake of the Hamas attacks of October 7th, it has intensified its military activities along the border between Israel and Lebanon. The persistent question has been what is it trying to achieve? Are the attacks intended as a show of support for the Palestinians in Gaza or an attempt to take advantage of Israel’s diverted military focus? And could this dangerous front lead to an all-out war in the Middle East? This week on the Inquiry we are asking: What does Hezbollah want? Contributors: Aurélie Daher, Associate Professor in political science at the University Paris-Dauphine Lina Khatib, Associate Fellow with the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House Dr Bashir Saade, Lecturer of Politics and Religion at the University of Stirling in Scotland Mehran Kamrava, Professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Louise Clarke Researcher: Matt Toulson Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Gareth Jones Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jacqui Johnson Image: Hezbollah Fighters and Mourners Attend Funeral of Top Commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut / NurPhoto / Contributor via Getty Images
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Welcome to the Inquiry with me, Tanya Beckett.
One question, four expert witnesses and an answer.
Hezbollah is based in southern Lebanon.
It has both military and political wings, but is designated in its entirety by many countries including western states, Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council as a terrorist organization.
Since Israel launched its war in Gaza in the wake of the Hamas attacks of October 7, it has intensified its military activities along the border between Israel and Lebanon.
On the Evening of Saturday 27th July, 12 children and young people who were playing at a football pitch in the Golan Heights were killed by a military rocket.
Speculation immediately began as to whether the rocket hit civilians because it missed its intended target and of course who fired it.
It seemed most likely that it had been launched by one of Tehran's proxy militias in the Middle East, Hezbollah.
The group denied the attack.
The persistent question has what is it trying to achieve?
Are the attacks intended as a show of support for the Palestinians in Gaza or an attempt to take advantage of Israel's diverted military focus?
And could this dangerous front lead to an all out war in the Middle East?
This week on the Inquiry we're asking what does Hezbollah want?
Part 1 the origins of Hezbollah.
My name is already Daher.
I'm an associate professor in political science at the University Paris Dauphine in Paris.