Iran-US War: What's Happening in Lebanon?
- Uri Pilichowski
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Lebanon is once again embroiled in conflict as tensions with Israel escalate dramatically. Following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, shattering a fragile ceasefire that had lasted since November 2024.
This has triggered Israeli airstrikes and ground incursions, displacing tens of thousands and killing dozens in Lebanon. The crisis highlights longstanding border disputes, regional proxy wars, and Lebanon's internal divisions, with the government now banning Hezbollah's military activities amid fears of a broader war.
Lead-up to the current Mideast conflict
The roots of the current crisis trace back decades. Lebanon and Israel have clashed since 1948, when Lebanon joined Arab states in a war against the newly formed Israel, leading to an armistice in 1949. The influx of Palestinian refugees and PLO fighters into Lebanon in the 1970s destabilized the country, sparking the 1975-1990 civil war and Israeli invasions in 1978 and 1982 to counter cross-border attacks. The 1982 invasion aimed to expel the PLO and install a friendly government, but it led to the formation of Hezbollah as a resistance group backed by Iran. Conflicts persisted, including the 2006 war, where Hezbollah's rocket attacks prompted Israeli retaliation, causing widespread destruction.
More recently, the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel ignited border skirmishes with Hezbollah, escalating into full conflict by 2024. Israel invaded southern Lebanon in October 2024 to push Hezbollah back, but withdrew partially under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November, though violations continued with Israeli strikes. Tensions simmered until March 2026, when Hezbollah's response to Khamenei's assassination reignited hostilities.
Hezbollah's nefarious activities toward Israel, Lebanon
Hezbollah, founded in 1982 amid Israel's invasion, has engaged in persistent aggression against Israel while exerting undue influence in Lebanon. It has launched thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli positions since October 2023, displacing 96,000 Israelis and killing over 40, including civilians. In March 2026, it fired missiles at Haifa and the Golan Heights in retaliation for Khamenei's death, defying Lebanon's government and risking national stability. Hezbollah's arsenal, built with Iranian support, includes tunnels and precision weapons, enabling cross-border incursions and attacks on military bases.
Domestically, Hezbollah operates as a "state within a state," controlling southern Lebanon and influencing politics, which many Lebanese view as dragging the country into unwanted wars. Its refusal to disarm post-2006 and 2024 has fueled internal strife, with critics accusing it of prioritizing Iranian interests over Lebanon's sovereignty. The group's actions have led to economic isolation and displacement, as seen in the current crisis, where over 58,000 Lebanese fled amid escalations.
Why is Israel at war now?
Israel has responded aggressively, conducting over 250 airstrikes across Lebanon since March 2, 2026, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and the south. Ground forces have advanced into southern Lebanon, seizing strategic areas and issuing evacuation orders for over 100 villages to create a buffer zone. These operations have killed at least 52 and injured 154 in Lebanon, while Israel claims to have eliminated key Hezbollah figures, including intelligence heads.
Israel explains these actions as necessary to neutralize Hezbollah's threat, enforce the 2024 ceasefire, and protect northern communities from rocket fire. Officials argue that Hezbollah's attacks provide a pretext to degrade its capabilities, preventing rebuilding and ensuring citizen safety amid the broader Iran conflict. The goal is dismantling Hezbollah's military presence south of the Litani River, per UN resolutions, to avert a wider regional war.
Wrap up
Lebanon's turmoil underscores the perils of proxy conflicts in a fragile state. With displacement soaring and casualties mounting, diplomatic efforts are urgent to prevent further devastation. Yet, as Hezbollah defies bans and Israel presses on, peace remains elusive, threatening regional stability.
Uri Pilichowski is an author, speaker, and senior educator at institutions around the world.