Hezbollah's role in the Syrian civil war

The Hezbollah organization, which has been operating in Lebanon since the mid-1980s, operates as a political party and armed force. The political wing of the Shia Muslim-based organization is a significant political party in Lebanon, and its armed wing is considered stronger than the Lebanese Army.

The Hezbollah organization, which had been in conflict with Israel for some time, became known for its withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in 2000, and the Israeli military's 2006 war with Israeli forces.

Hezbollah has been supported by Iran for some time, and as relations between Syria and Iran have grown, so has Hezbollah's ties with Syria.

After the death of Hafiz al-Assad in the Syrian government in 2000, his son Bashar al-Assad came to power. Under Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah and Syria developed close ties.

Protests in Syria erupted in 2011 following the Arab Spring process. As a result of the government's response, the situation escalated into a dangerous civil war. With that, regional and world powers began to focus on Syria.

The impact of the Syrian war on Hezbollah

Groups against the Syrian government were different. In the early days, the main armed organization was the Free Syrian Army. Meanwhile, by the end of 2011, the Syrian opposition had formed an organization called the Syrian National Council.

By 2012, Assad's government was not good. Meanwhile, some opposition groups in Syria had to directly challenge Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, in February 2012, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri declared Syria the new battleground for jihad. Jihadists and foreign militants who had retreated into Iraq had to flow into Syria. The Syrian struggle was gradually falling into the hands of Islamist extremists.

With the extremists becoming more powerful, the threat to the Hezbollah organization has increased. After the collapse of the Syrian government, Syrian organizations have increasingly declared attacks on Hezbollah.


Iran has been keeping an eye on the situation. Iran was trying to protect its strongest ally in the region by providing military aid to the Syrian government. If the Assad regime collapsed, it became clear that Hezbollah would also be threatened and that Iran would weaken in the region.

Terrorist organizations spread across the Lebanese Syrian border in mid-2012 and their center was Al-Qasayr.

On July 18, 2012, a massive bombardment targeted the National Guard headquarters in Damascus. Defense Minister General Dawood Rajiha, Deputy Defense Minister and Azad's brother-in-law Asif Shawkat, Deputy President's Assistant Hassan Turkmani and National Security Bureau Director Hisham Iktiyar died.

The attack coincided with a massive attack by Syrian rebels toward Damascus. The fighting was near the city and the government's situation was very dangerous.

On the night of July 18, Hezbollah's General Secretary, Hassan Nasrallah, made a speech and named the dead Syrian army as their fighting brothers. Meanwhile, some Syrian rebels have vowed to attack Hezbollah after the capture of Damascus.

Participation in the Syrian war

It is in this context that Hezbollah was directly involved in the war in Syria. Musa Ali Zaini, who died in Damascus in August 2012, is believed to be the first Hezbollah militant killed in the Syrian war.


Hezbollah Organization provided great support to the Syrian army during the Al Qusayr offensive in April-June 2013. This led to the suppression of insurgents, including extremist Islamist groups on the Lebanese border, and the threat to the city of Damascus.

Hezbollah continued to support the Syrian army. Hezbollah argues that if the Syrian government collapses, it must go to Syria and suppress its enemies before it becomes the next target.

The Syrian government has already established its power in many areas with Iranian and Russian military aid. According to some estimates, some 4,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in these battles. But the Hezbollah organization, on the other hand, has reached a strong position that it has never reached.


Hezbollah is playing an important role in Iran's role in the political process being carried out by the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia against Iran. Hezbollah's threat to Israel with its missiles is insignificant. Therefore, Hezbollah will also pose a significant challenge in the event of a military build-up against Iran.