According to a report from The National, a UAE-based newspaper, Hezbollah does not plan to back Iran in its ongoing conflict, despite their established connections and economic ties.
Hezbollah, a prominent political party and militant group in Lebanon, has collaborated with Iran for years and receives considerable financial support. In fact, the State Department estimated that Hezbollah’s activities in Iran alone could cost around $700 million annually.
Besides its involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, Iran has utilized Hezbollah to expand its influence in Latin America. For over 20 years, Hezbollah has maintained a strong relationship with the Venezuelan government and has been implicated in organized crime across South America, including the notorious bombings in Buenos Aires in the 1990s.
Interestingly, Hezbollah’s strength has waned in the past year. Recently, targeted strikes from Israel—especially the elimination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah—have significantly impacted the group. Just weeks before Nasrallah’s demise, a series of explosions linked to the organization led to casualties among its members. Although Israel hasn’t officially claimed responsibility, reports suggest that these attacks may have connections to Mossad.
In light of these developments, along with the Lebanese government’s calls to sidestep involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, Hezbollah seems unlikely to come to Iran’s aid.
An anonymous Hezbollah source confirmed that “Iran can defend itself.” The Lebanese government, under President Joseph Own, has reportedly cautioned Hezbollah against entering the fray, suggesting that they “wouldn’t” take a stand even if the U.S. decided to attack Iran to support Israel.
The report highlighted that Hezbollah is firm in its decision not to engage in actions to defend Iran.
An Emirati source noted that Hezbollah’s operational spaces, known for housing crucial tunnels for weaponry, are currently abandoned, underscoring that the group has not mobilized any preparations for an attack against Israel.
“This area could have served as a strategic launch point for Iran’s powerful ally to strike Israeli positions,” the report remarked regarding a tunnel near Chebaa. However, due to a ceasefire agreement with Israel from last November, these positions remain deserted.
In fact, Iran typically refrains from relying on Hezbollah for its own defense, opting instead to leverage multiple proxy groups while avoiding direct confrontations, unlike recent Israeli airstrikes targeting key Iranian officials.
At the same time, affiliated groups in Iraq, known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), seem to be somewhat separate from Tehran and have begun organizing against Israel. Recently, several PMF members gathered in Iraq, calling for governmental support for Iran against Israeli actions.
“We strongly condemn the brutal attacks backed by the enemies of the Islamic Republic,” a senior PMF member stated. The calls for action are largely limited to protests for now, despite unity against Israeli aggression.
Interestingly, one faction, the Hezbollah Brigade (KH), which operates independently from the Lebanese Hezbollah, has warned of potential action if the U.S. engages on Israel’s behalf. They emphasized that any American intervention would trigger immediate responses against regional interests.
