Hezbollah-Israel War Escalates, Lebanon Suffers

Hezbollah has paid a heavy price for its war with Israel, suffering thousands of casualties and political opposition within Lebanon. Israel has occupied southern Lebanon and maintains a buffer zone, while both sides continue to trade blows despite a US-mediated ceasefire. Hezbollah, founded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, aligns with Iran, believing its participation will force Lebanon onto the agenda of US-Iranian negotiations for a more robust ceasefire. Lebanon's government has held direct talks with Israel, a move Hezbollah opposes, and has banned Hezbollah's military activities, seeking its disarmament. The United States, through figures like Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, has indicated that a US-Iran deal might not directly address the Lebanon conflict, while urging Israel for proportional responses. Figures like Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam in Lebanon continue to push for Hezbollah's peaceful disarmament.