Israel and Hezbollah: Rising Tensions and the Threat of War

The CRS report “Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah: Current Violence and Potential Escalation” (September 20, 2024) analyzes the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah following Hezbollah’s attacks in support of Hamas during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Since July 2024, the violence has intensified, with Hezbollah’s extensive missile and drone arsenal threatening Israel’s strategic sites. Covert Israeli strikes have also targeted Hezbollah assets, further raising tensions.

Hezbollah’s alliance with Iran is central to the conflict, though its degree of autonomy is debated. The risk of a broader war looms, as Israel has moved military forces to the Lebanon border. Both sides must weigh their military strategies carefully, with Hezbollah aiming to maintain its influence while Israel seeks to neutralize the threat. U.S. involvement, through military aid and diplomatic efforts, is significant, but questions remain about the possibility of direct U.S. military intervention if the conflict escalates further.

The situation poses serious risks to regional stability, displacing thousands of civilians and drawing attention to the potential humanitarian consequences. The report concludes by emphasizing the challenges in finding a diplomatic solution, particularly with Hezbollah’s deep entrenchment in Lebanon and its ongoing military threat.

Hezbollah’s Rocket and Missile Arsenal

Category	Model	Range	Diameter	Warheads	Arsenal
Short-Range Unguided Rockets	“Katyusha”	4-40 km	107-122 mm	6-20 kg high explosive (HE) or submunitions	40,000-80,000
	Fajr-1 and Type 63 derivatives	8-10 km	107 mm	8 kg HE fragmentation
	Burkan	10 km	240 mm	100-500 kg HE
	Falaq-1	10-11 km	240 mm	50 kg HE
	Falaq-2	10-11 km	333 mm	120 kg HE
	Shahin-1	13 km	333 mm	190 kg HE
Type 81	20.5 km	122 mm	39 submunitions
Long-Range Unguided Rockets	Fajr-3	43 km	240 mm	45 kg HE	60,000-80,000
	Fajr-5	75 km	333 mm	90 kg HE
	Raad-2/Raad-3 Uragan-type	60-70 km	220 mm	50 kg HE
	Khaibar-1	100 km	302 mm	150 kg HE
Short-Range Unguided Ballistic Missiles	Zelzal-1	125-160 km	610 mm	600 kg HE	20,000-40,000
	Zelzal-2	210 km	610 mm	600 kg HE
	Fateh-110/M-600	250-300 km	610 mm	450-500 kg HE
Intermediate-Range Unguided Ballistic Missiles	Scud-B/C/D	300-500 km	880 mm	600-985 kg HE	10-50
Short-Range Guided Ballistic Missiles	Fateh-110/M-600	250-300 km	610 mm	450-500 kg HE	150-400
Total					120,000-200,000

Source: Center for Strategic and International Studies, March 2024
(citing various sources).

Timeline of Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

Year	Event
1982-1985	Israel’s invasion of Lebanon triggers resistance, leading to the establishment of Hezbollah with help from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
1985	Israel withdraws from central Lebanon but maintains control in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah becomes the main resistance force against Israel’s presence.
1992-1994	Hezbollah bombings of Israel’s embassy (1992) and a Jewish community center (1994) in Argentina kill 29 and 85 people, respectively.
1996	Hezbollah attacks Israel, triggering the 17-day Israeli “Operation Grapes of Wrath,” killing more than 200 Lebanese.
2000	Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah claims victory and maintains that Israel still occupies parts of Lebanese territory.
2006	Israel and Hezbollah engage in a 34-day war, with 160 Israelis and 1,200 Lebanese killed. UN Security Council calls for non-Lebanese forces to withdraw north of the Litani River, but Hezbollah does not comply and begins to rearm.
2011-Present	Hezbollah assists Iran in defending the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian Civil War, facilitating greater arms transfers from Iran to Hezbollah.
2023-Present	Hezbollah commences cross-border fire with Israel after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. As of September 2024, over 500 Lebanese and 30 Israelis have been killed.