Hananya Naftali
Nov 7, 2026
Israel and Hezbollah
The Short Answer
Israel is fighting Hezbollah, not Lebanon. Hezbollah is an Iranian backed terrorist army that began firing rockets at Israel on October 8, 2023, forcing about 60,000 Israelis from their homes. Israel left Lebanon completely in 2000, yet Hezbollah refuses to disarm as UN resolutions require.
Who Started the Fighting
The day after the Hamas massacre, Hezbollah opened a second front in support of Hamas. Rockets, drones and anti tank missiles hit towns across northern Israel. In July 2024 a Hezbollah rocket killed twelve children on a soccer field in Majdal Shams.
Why Israel Demands Disarmament
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, passed in 2006, required that only the Lebanese army be armed south of the Litani River. Hezbollah ignored it for years. A ceasefire in November 2024 did not lead to disarmament, and in 2026 Hezbollah joined Iran's war against Israel.
Israel's goal is simple: families in the north must be able to live safely in their homes. Read more: Hezbollah and Lebanon
Key Facts
Hezbollah attacked Israel on October 8, 2023, without provocation.
About 60,000 Israelis were displaced from the north.
Israel withdrew fully from Lebanon in 2000, as the UN confirmed.
UN Resolution 1701 requires Hezbollah to disarm south of the Litani River.