Lebanon pager explosion: What is Hezbollah and why is Israel targeting it?

The recent pager explosion in Lebanon, which injured thousands and killed several Hezbollah members, has brought the group's long-standing conflict with Israel back into the spotlight. But what exactly is Hezbollah, and why is Israel allegedly targeting it with such unique approaches now?

Who are Hezbollah?

Hezbollah, meaning "Party of God" or "Party of Allah," is a Shi’ite Muslim political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Backed by Iran, Hezbollah was formed in the 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War. Since 1992, it has been led by Hassan Nasrallah.

Though it holds significant political power within Lebanon, particularly in Shi’ite-majority areas, many countries — including Israel and the United States — consider Hezbollah a terrorist organisation. Hezbollah's military capabilities are substantial, and it has been involved in several regional conflicts, most notably with Israel.

Why is Israel and Hezbollah fighting now?

Much like Hamas, Hezbollah has been in conflict with Israel for decades, starting with Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon in 1978. In fact, Hezbollah and Israel actively exchanging fire ever since the Hamas attack last year. Even after Israel withdrew in 2000, skirmishes between the two have continued. One of the most significant conflicts was the 2006 Lebanon War, a 34-day war that caused widespread devastation in Lebanon and northern Israel.

Hezbollah opposes Israel's existence and has been linked to numerous attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets around the world. This includes operations in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Israel's primary reason for targeting Hezbollah is its military presence along the northern border of Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah, with Iranian backing, has vowed to retaliate against Israel for these strikes, leading to a persistent cycle of conflict.

The pager explosion: A new chapter in the conflict?

The recent pager explosion appears to be an unprecedented breach in Hezbollah's security. Hezbollah had ordered 5,000 pagers from a Taiwanese company, but according to reports, Israel’s national intelligence agency Mossad managed to plant explosives inside these devices.

When activated, these hidden explosives caused thousands of pagers to detonate simultaneously across Lebanon, killing nine people and injuring nearly 3,000 others. Hezbollah has referred to this as one of its biggest counterintelligence failures in recent decades.

Israel, which has declined to comment on the explosion, likely sees this as part of its broader strategy to weaken Hezbollah’s operational capacity. For Hezbollah, the explosion represents a significant blow not only militarily but also symbolically, as it highlights Israeli intelligence’s ability to infiltrate their operations.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has stated that it does not seek a full-scale war, but it is prepared to defend itself if Israel continues its aggression. Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border remain high, and the potential for escalation is ever-present. The recent pager blast shows that both sides are engaged in covert operations that could tip the region back into open conflict. For now, Hezbollah’s primary challenge lies in addressing the breach in its security, while Israel continues to prepare for potential retaliations.