The War on Lebanon and Palestine: The Role of Resistance Between Facts and Illusions

The Zionist enemy continues its brutal aggression against Lebanon and Palestine, committing massacres against civilians while failing to achieve its strategic goals of eliminating the resistance or imposing its political terms.

In parallel with this criminal Zionist aggression, numerous questions are raised about the role of Islamic resistance in Palestine and Lebanon and its relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Many speculate about the end of the resistance’s role, while others question Iran’s supportive stance towards the resistance.

To clarify certain points and guide the discussion, we revisit some historical milestones in the resistance movement in Lebanon and Iran’s role, leading to the critical battles being waged today in Palestine and Lebanon.

Historical Context of Resistance in Lebanon

In June 1982, following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, which reached the capital, Beirut, several groups came together. These included cadres from the Lebanese Union of Muslim Students, Islamic committees, members of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Beirut, Beqaa, and the South, along with leaders from the Islamic Dawa Party (Lebanon branch). Later, founders of the Islamic Amal Movement, led by Hussein Mousavi, members of Fatah, the student battalion, and leftist activists joined forces to establish a framework for resisting the Israeli aggression.

They coordinated with the Iranian leadership, headed by Imam Khomeini, seeking support and legitimate backing. The Iranian leadership responded by sending dozens of members from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to Syria and Lebanon to train these cadres and youths, who began their resistance efforts without an official name. Eventually, the name “Hezbollah” was adopted, and its official announcement came on February 16, 1985, marking the first anniversary of the assassination of Sheikh Ragheb Harb.

Simultaneously, the “Al-Fajr Forces” affiliated with the Islamic Group in Lebanon emerged, and significant coordination and cooperation existed between these forces and the Islamic Resistance. The National Resistance Front was also launched, and the Lebanese Resistance Brigades affiliated with the Amal Movement played a substantial role.

Over 42 years of resistance, political, social, and media work, these young resistors, cadres, and scholars transformed into one of the most important regional and Lebanese powers. They developed significant capabilities in weaponry, as well as in social, educational, health, and security institutions. They fought numerous battles against Israeli occupation across the region, becoming a vital element in the Axis of Resistance. Through training and advisory roles, they extended support to resistance forces in Palestine and other regional countries, fostering coordination and cooperation over the past forty years, which has yielded significant results in the struggle against the Zionist enemy.

The Role of Iran in Supporting the Resistance

Iran’s support has been the cornerstone of the resistance’s emergence and development. Politically, Hezbollah’s experience benefited from the unique Lebanese political landscape and the military, political, and security experiences of the Palestinian resistance. It became a model for resistance work.

Today, Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance face the fiercest battle since their establishment. Due to its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, Hezbollah is now facing a war of extermination by the Israeli army. Israeli forces have targeted Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and other political, security, and military leaders. Moreover, they have been demolishing social, educational, financial, media, and health institutions, as well as targeting supportive communities across various regions by destroying villages, residential areas, and commercial institutions. The primary goal behind all this is to eradicate this unconventional force and subjugate it to the Israeli-American agenda, which aims to liquidate the Palestinian cause, suppress resistance forces, and establish a new Middle Eastern order.

Psychological Warfare and Propaganda

During this harsh war, rumors and psychological warfare have spread, claiming that Iran has abandoned Hezbollah and sold it out in the framework of regional and international deals, lifting its support for the party and other resistance forces in the region.

So, is there truth to what is being circulated? Where is this harsh war against Hezbollah, the resistance, Lebanon, and Palestine heading?

Anyone familiar with the strategic, organic, and historical relationship between Hezbollah, resistance forces, and Iran recognizes the pivotal Iranian role in the party’s formation and development. However, without the Lebanese dimension in this experience, it would not have achieved such strategic success, especially under the leadership of the late Secretary-General Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah and other founding leaders who accompanied this pioneering experience.

The Ongoing Battle and Future Prospects

Despite the severity of this war and the significant losses suffered by Hezbollah during the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, including assassinations, bombings, and the destruction of infrastructure, the party continues to resist in southern Lebanon. Its missile system remains operational, achieving significant victories in recent days. Political and executive leadership continues to manage all files, making the bet on eradicating Hezbollah a flawed one. The claim that Iran has abandoned the party and sold it out is baseless, and the battle is still in its early stages. It is impossible to determine the nature and role of the party in the coming phase before the end of this major confrontation.

Today, we stand at a new historical turning point in the journey of Hezbollah and the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine. The outcomes of this battle will have significant repercussions in Lebanon and the region. However, one of the gravest mistakes is to bet on the end of this struggle, regardless of the sacrifices that will be made in this decisive battle across Lebanon, the region, and the world.