The recent escalation between Israel and Iran has raised concerns in Lebanon, where the Lebanese group Hezbollah left its home base after fighting with Israel last year. Fatima Kandil, who fled her home in Beirut’s southern suburbs during the conflict, expressed satisfaction at seeing missiles rain down on Israel, saying “Our revenge is being taken.” However, some people in Lebanon hope for stability and fear that their country might be dragged back into a prolonged conflict.
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on Friday, assassinating several top commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) along with top nuclear scientists. The attack also killed numerous civilians, including children. Hours later, Hezbollah released a statement condemning the attacks and offering condolences for the slain Iranian officers.
Analysts say that Hezbollah is not likely to intervene in the conflict at this point, as Iranian missiles are capable of confronting the Israeli occupation. However, if the situation escalates into a full-scale war, nothing prevents it from changing. Some experts believe that Hezbollah’s lack of intervention is evidence of their lack of capacity and battered leadership after last year’s conflict.
While Israel continues to hit targets around Lebanon, mostly in southern Lebanon but occasionally in Beirut suburbs, any resumption of military activity by Hezbollah would likely draw an even more intense Israeli response and disrupt reconstruction efforts. Hezbollah’s priority remains rebuilding homes and towns in southern Lebanon, which was severely damaged during the conflict.
The US and Israel have been pressuring the Lebanese state to disarm Hezbollah, challenging its political hegemony. However, many experts believe that there is a consensus between Tehran and Hezbollah on not intervening at this time. The Iranian-Hezbollah relationship is complex, with shared interests and a similar ideology, but also tensions, including Iran’s intervention in last year’s conflict.
As the situation continues to unfold, some experts warn of potential escalation, which could lead to Hezbollah carrying out operations in Israeli-occupied areas of Lebanon. For now, analysts believe that Hezbollah will stay on the sidelines, watching events closely and ready to intervene if necessary.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/17/hezbollah-watches-on-as-iran-and-israel-battle-for-now