This claim oversimplifies Hezbollah’s origins and overlooks the broader political conditions that led to its formation.
The Lebanese political climate has a long and precarious history. This political instability did not emerge in isolation, but intensified following the creation of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent Arab–Israeli wars (Chamie). Large numbers of Palestinian refugees settled in Lebanon, and over time groups such as the Palestine Liberation Organization began launching attacks against Israel from Lebanese territory. In response, Israel invaded southern Lebanon in 1978 and again in 1982, aiming to dismantle these Palestinian guerrilla forces.
By the time of the 1982 invasion, tensions within Lebanon were already high. Many Lebanese, particularly Shiite communities in the south, felt abandoned by a government that failed to effectively respond to repeated Israeli incursions. It was within this context of foreign invasion, internal neglect, and long-standing Shiite political marginalization that Hezbollah emerged. With backing from Iran and support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an offshoot of Shiite militants organized into what became Hezbollah, framing themselves as a resistance movement rather than a political party (Robinson).
Hezbollah’s early identity was explicitly militant. The group was formed to resist Israeli occupation and assert Shiite power within a system that had historically excluded it. Political participation came later, not as an original goal, but as a strategic shift. It was not until 1992 that Hezbollah first entered parliamentary elections (Norton), using Lebanon’s sectarian political structure to formalize its influence. The group has held cabinet positions since 2005, further embedding itself within the state (Robinson).
Importantly, Hezbollah’s entry into politics did not replace its armed role. Under the Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon’s civil war, Hezbollah was uniquely permitted to retain its weapons on the grounds that it functioned as a resistance force against Israel (Robinson). This allowed the group to operate simultaneously as a militia and a political party, while also expanding social service networks that bolstered its domestic legitimacy.
While it is accurate to say that Hezbollah is a political party with seats in parliament, this characterization alone obscures its origins and purpose. Hezbollah began as a militant response to Israeli invasion and systemic Shiite marginalization, later turning to electoral politics as an additional means of securing power, resources, and long-term influence within Lebanon.
SOURCES:
Norton, Augustus Richard. “The Role of Hezbollah in Lebanese Domestic Politics.” The International Spectator, vol. 42, no. 4, Dec. 2007, pp. 475–491, www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/centers/boisi/pdf/f09/The-Role-of-Hezbollah.pdf, https://doi.org/10.1080/03932720701722852.
Chamie, Joseph. “The Lebanese Civil War: An Investigation into the Causes.” World Affairs, vol. 139, no. 3, 1976, pp. 171–188. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20671682
Robinson, Kali. “What Is Hezbollah? What to Know about Its Origins, Structure and History.” PBS NewsHour, 16 Oct. 2023, www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-is-hezbollah-what-to-know-about-its-origins-structure-and-history. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
