To understand the war in Iran, you need to understand Hezbollah.
Formed by Iran in 1982, the Lebanese group embodies the debate around Iran: To supporters of Israel and the US, it’s a terror group, plain and simple. In the 1980s and 1990s, with Iran’s backing, it kidnapped American journalists, assassinated prominent Americans, and blew up the American embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut, killing hundreds. Over the last 20 years, it’s launched thousands of rockets into Israel. It’s a Lebanese group that explicitly takes orders from Tehran, giving Iran a presence on Israel’s border.
But to millions of Shia Muslims in Lebanon, Hezbollah is their protector – a provider of education, food, and money in a place where all of that is lacking. In communities where the police and military are impotent or absent, many consider Hezbollah their defender. For many Lebanese who do not trust Israel, Hezbollah is their shield; for those who want the state of Israel eliminated, Hezbollah is their weapon.
Then there are Lebanon’s Christians and Sunnis, who are split: While some appreciate Hezbollah’s role as a powerful military, a growing majority view the group as holding their country hostage and plunging it into one destructive war after another.
This complicated situation is the cause of the war in Lebanon and a major driver of the one in Iran.
To understand it, I traveled to Hezbollah territory and interviewed both supporters and opponents of the group. The experience was eye-opening, and one of the most interesting I’ve yet had as a reporter. Our video documenting it is available above, free for all subscribers.
We hope it helps you make sense of what’s now happening in the Middle East.
Plus, for a detailed breakdown of the conflict in Lebanon right now, check out my behind-the-scenes conversation with Roca co-host Max Towey here, where I talk about my experience visiting Lebanon and Israel.
