Hezbollah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Islamic Resistance in Lebanon
المقاومة الإسلامية في لبنان
Al-Muqāwamah al-Islāmīyah fī Lubnān |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Secretary-General and Leader | Naim Qassem |
| Supreme Leader | Mojtaba Khamenei |
| Deputy Secretary-General | Mohammad Raad |
| Head of the Executive Council | Ali Damoush |
| Founder | Subhi al-Tufayli Abbas al-Musawi X Hassan Nasrallah X |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Parliamentary group | Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc |
| Paramilitary wing | Jihad Council Lebanese Resistance Brigades |
| Ideology | |
| Religion | Shia Islam (Twelver) |
| National affiliation | March 8 Alliance |
| International affiliation | Axis of Resistance (informal) |
| Colours | Yellow and green |
| Slogan | فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْغَالِبُونَ ('Certainly God's party that will prevail.') |
| Parliament |
15 / 128 (12%)
|
| Party flag | |
 |
|
| Hezbollah | |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1982–present |
| Allegiance |  Iran (IRGC) |
| Headquarters | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Size | 100,000 (2021, according to Hassan Nasrallah) |
| Allies |
State allies
Non-state allies
|
| Opponents |
State opponents
Non-state opponents
Former opponents
|
| Battles and wars |
|
| Designated as a terrorist group by |
See list:
 Argentina Australia Austria Bahrain Canada Colombia Costa Rica Czech Republic Dominican Republic Ecuador Estonia European Union France Germany Gulf Cooperation Council Guatemala Honduras Israel Kosovo Lithuania Netherlands New Zealand Paraguay Serbia Slovenia Syria Trinidad and Tobago United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States |
Hezbollah (pronounced HEZ-bə-LAH) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party that also has an active paramilitary wing. It was founded in 1982 by Lebanese clerics, with support from Iran, to resist the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Hezbollah has two main parts: a political party that works within the Lebanese government and a paramilitary wing called the Jihad Council. This paramilitary wing has been involved in conflicts and is known for its military strength. The organization also runs a large network of social services, including schools, hospitals, and media outlets, which makes it deeply connected to Lebanese society.
Contents
History of Hezbollah
Hezbollah's story began in 1982, when Lebanese religious leaders, with financial help from Iran, came together to form the group. This happened during a time when Israel had invaded Lebanon, causing many people to lose their homes and creating a difficult situation, especially for the Shia Muslim community who felt they were not well-represented in Lebanese politics.
The group was inspired by the 1979 Iranian Revolution and its leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. About 1,500 Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) instructors helped train and organize various Shia groups in Lebanon, bringing them together under Hezbollah's leadership.
Hezbollah used different fighting methods against the Israeli army. These included rockets and other missiles. When the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990, a peace agreement asked all armed groups to give up their weapons. However, Syria, which controlled Lebanon then, allowed Hezbollah to keep its weapons. This let Hezbollah control Shia areas near the border with Israel.
In the 1990s, Hezbollah changed from being just a fighting group to also being a political one. This process is sometimes called the "Lebanonisation" of Hezbollah. It started to work more with the Lebanese government.
In 1992, Hezbollah decided to take part in elections. Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, supported this decision. Hezbollah won all twelve seats it ran for in the parliament. It also began talking with Lebanese Christians. Hezbollah believes in protecting cultural, political, and religious freedoms in Lebanon.
In 1997, Hezbollah created the Lebanese Resistance Brigades. This group included people from different religions. They all wanted to fight against Israel's presence in Lebanon.
Hezbollah gets a lot of money and military help from Iran. It is a key member of the "Axis of Resistance". This alliance opposes Israel and Western influence in the Middle East.
Disarmament Efforts
After the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, a ceasefire agreement was made. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) began working to disarm Hezbollah. This included efforts in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah had been very strong. In May 2025, the Lebanese government announced that the army had mostly achieved this goal.
In August 2025, the Lebanese government said it would create a plan to disarm all armed groups. This decision came after a long meeting. Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, spoke against the idea of disarming. He said Hezbollah was strong and ready to defend Lebanon. He also warned of possible conflict if the disarmament plan went forward.
On September 5, 2025, the Lebanese army presented its disarmament plan, called the Homeland Shield Plan. This plan aimed to disarm all armed groups in Lebanon, especially Hezbollah.
Hezbollah's Beliefs
Hezbollah follows a certain type of Shia Islamic belief system. This system was developed by the Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Hezbollah was formed with help from Khomeini's followers in the early 1980s. It aimed to spread Islamic ideas.
Hezbollah's early goals included changing Lebanon into an Islamic republic. However, this goal has changed over time to include more people and ideas. Hezbollah has also focused on uniting Muslims to oppose foreign influence.
Hezbollah is considered to be socially conservative. It encourages women to wear traditional Islamic veils.
Early Goals (1985)
In 1985, Hezbollah shared its main goals. One goal was to fight against what it called US and Israeli influence. This included Israel's presence in southern Lebanon. Another goal was to bring all Muslims together. It also said it would protect all Lebanese communities, except those working with Israel. Hezbollah's 1985 statement also rejected the existence of Israel.
Updated Goals (2009)
In 2009, Hezbollah updated its goals. This new document talked about foreign policy and Lebanon's future. It showed more support for Lebanese political groups. It also said it was against political divisions based on religion. The updated goals promoted a government that unites the country. It also saw the Lebanese army as a partner.
Views on Israel
From the start, one of Hezbollah's main goals has been to oppose Israel. Hezbollah believes its actions against Israel are justified. It says these actions are in response to Israeli operations against Lebanon. It also claims Israel occupies Lebanese land. Hezbollah views Israel as an illegitimate state.
How Hezbollah is Organized
Hezbollah has a formal structure for its operations. It focuses all power on its religious leaders. Their decisions guide the entire group.
Hezbollah has a main council that makes decisions. This council includes senior religious members. It oversees all of Hezbollah's activities in Lebanon. There are also specialized committees for different areas. These include financial, military, and social matters.
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest religious authority for Hezbollah. Hezbollah's leaders ask him for guidance when they cannot agree. After Khomeini's death, Hezbollah's leaders became more independent. However, Iran has continued to support and influence Hezbollah.
Hezbollah does not separate its political and social work from its military actions. Its leaders say that the same leadership guides all these activities. This includes work in parliament and military actions against Israel.
Funding Hezbollah
Hezbollah receives money from the Iranian government. It also gets funds from Lebanese businesses, private individuals, and donations from Muslims. Hezbollah says its main income comes from its own investments and Muslim donations.
Many Western sources say that Iran and Syria provide most of Hezbollah's money, training, and weapons. Iran reportedly gave hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah in the 1980s.
Hezbollah's Armed Strength
Hezbollah does not share exact numbers about its armed forces. In 2006, one estimate said Hezbollah had 1,000 full-time members and 6,000–10,000 volunteers. In October 2023, an expert estimated Hezbollah had at least 60,000 fighters, including full-time members and reservists. It was also believed to have increased its missile supply to about 150,000.
Hezbollah is often described as being militarily stronger than the Lebanese Army. An Israeli commander called Hezbollah "the greatest guerrilla group in the world."
In April 2010, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Hezbollah has more missiles and rockets than most countries. He claimed Syria and Iran provide these weapons.
Designated as a Terrorist Group or Resistance Movement
.svg)
Hezbollah's status is a debated topic. Some see it as a political party, others as a terrorist group, and some as a resistance movement.
As of April 2026, Hezbollah or its military wing is considered a terrorist organization by at least 28 countries. This includes the European Union and most members of the Arab League. However, Iraq and Lebanon do not consider it a terrorist group. In June 2024, the Arab League announced it no longer views Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
Countries that have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Germany, Gulf Cooperation Council, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Kosovo, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand (military wing), Paraguay, Serbia, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.
The EU separates Hezbollah's political and military parts, banning only the military part. However, Hezbollah itself does not make this distinction. Hezbollah says it is a legitimate resistance movement fighting for Lebanese land.
The United Nations Security Council has not listed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. However, some of its members have done so individually. The United Kingdom banned Hezbollah entirely in 2019. The United States lists the entire group as a terrorist organization. Russia sees Hezbollah as a legitimate social and political group. China remains neutral.
| Country | Listing | Ref |
|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
Entire organisation | |
 Australia |
Entire organisation | |
 Austria |
Entire organisation | |
 Bahrain |
Entire organisation | |
 Canada |
Entire organisation | |
 Colombia |
Entire organisation | |
| Costa Rica |
Entire organisation | |
 Czech Republic |
Entire organisation | |
 Ecuador |
Entire organisation | |
 Estonia |
Entire organisation | |
| European Union |
Hezbollah's military wing | |
 France |
Hezbollah's military wing, France considers the political wing as a legitimate sociopolitical organisation | |
 Germany |
Entire organisation | |
| Gulf Cooperation Council |
Entire organisation | |
 Guatemala |
Entire organisation | |
 Honduras |
Entire organisation | |
 Israel |
Entire organisation | |
 Kosovo |
Hezbollah's military wing | |
 Lithuania |
Entire organisation | |
 Netherlands |
Entire organisation | |
 New Zealand |
Hezbollah's military wing Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, since 2010 | |
 Paraguay |
Entire organisation | |
 Serbia |
Entire organisation | |
 Slovenia |
Entire organisation | |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
Entire organisation | |
 United Arab Emirates |
Entire organisation | |
 United Kingdom |
Entire organisation | |
 United States |
Entire organisation |
 Arab League |
Entire organisation |
 Algeria |
Entire organisation | |
 China |
Maintains contact with Hezbollah | |
 Cuba |
Hezbollah allegedly operates a base in Cuba | |
 Iran |
||
 North Korea |
Allegedly supports Hezbollah. Considers Hezbollah an organisation of Lebanese patriotic forces | |
 Russia |
Considers Hezbollah a legitimate sociopolitical organisation |
 Iraq |
The federal government of Iraq had previously listed it and the Houthi movement as terrorist organisations, but later withdrew the designation, calling it a mistake. | |
 Syria |
After the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, clashes broke out between the Syrian transitional government and Hezbollah in the border region. |
See also
In Spanish: Hezbolá para niños
- Politics of Lebanon
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
