January 27, 2026
For decades, Hezbollah has served as Iran’s most powerful and reliable regional proxy, providing Tehran a forward military presence on Israel’s northern border and a means to project power while limiting direct attribution. That role has shaped Hezbollah into a sophisticated, well-armed organization whose capabilities far exceed those of other Iranian-backed groups.
Hezbollah remains a significant and evolving security threat to Israel and U.S. forces and interests in the region. Although the 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has largely held, the security situation along Israel’s northern border remains fragile. Tensions persist, and low-level escalatory incidents have continued into early 2026 as Hezbollah actively regroups and replenishes its military capabilities south of the Litani River.
In the past several months, the Israeli Defense Forces have conducted targeted strikes in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah personnel and military infrastructure, including training facilities, weapons depots, rocket launch sites, and tunnel networks. Iran’s continued support to Hezbollah enables the group to reconstitute as Tehran’s most capable proxy force and raises the risk that Hezbollah could retaliate against Israel in the event of another U.S. strike on Iran.
Recent actions by Lebanon’s president and prime minister authorizing the dismantlement of Hezbollah’s weapons and military infrastructure represent a meaningful assertion of civilian authority. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Lebanese forces and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) committed to fully disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River by December 2025. Earlier this month, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced that it had completed the first phase of its disarmament plan, while acknowledging that substantial work remains, including clearing unexploded ordnance and dismantling tunnel systems.
Israeli officials have expressed encouragement regarding the LAF’s efforts but assess them to be insufficient in eliminating Hezbollah’s military presence in the south. Reporting late last year indicated that Hezbollah continued restocking rockets, anti-tank missiles, and artillery. On January 15, the Lebanese Foreign Minister stated that “so long as Hezbollah is not completely disarmed, Israel has the right to continue its attacks,” an implicit acknowledgement by Lebanese civilian leadership that the LAF lacks the capacity to fully disarm Hezbollah on its own.
As long as Hezbollah remains armed, organized, and backed by Iran, the risk of sustained rocket attacks into northern Israel remains acute.
Why This Matters to Democrats
Preventing civilian harm and escalation.
Hezbollah has repeatedly targeted civilian population centers, most notably during the 34-day war in 2006 and again following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Those attacks displaced about 60,000 Israelis from northern Israel, many of whom remain unable to return home. If Hezbollah’s military capabilities continue to regenerate unchecked, the risk of renewed mass displacement and civilian casualties on both sides of the border will rise significantly.
Protecting regional stability and U.S. interests.
Another major flare-up between Israel and Hezbollah may not stay contained. Escalation could draw in additional regional actors and increase the risk of broader confrontation involving Iran, threatening U.S. personnel, partners, and strategic interests across the region. Preventing such an outcome aligns directly with U.S. national security priorities.
Standing with a democratic ally and security partner.
Israel is one of the United States’ closest intelligence and security partners. Cooperation on counterterrorism, missile defense, cyber threats, and regional monitoring directly benefits U.S. national security. When Israel acts to protect its population from Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah, it is also helping safeguard shared U.S. strategic interests.
Upholding international commitments and norms.
Ceasefire and disarmament agreements only work if violations carry consequences. Allowing Hezbollah to rebuild militarily without consequence undermines the credibility of international frameworks designed to prevent renewed conflict, including UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701.
Israeli Strikes Augment Lebanese Operations
Hezbollah is not simply a political faction with a militia wing. It is a heavily armed proxy force with tens of thousands of fighters, extensive logistics networks, and large rocket and missile stockpiles embedded across southern and eastern Lebanon. While some heavy weapons were moved or concealed following the ceasefire, much of Hezbollah’s operational infrastructure remains intact and capable of striking Israel on short notice.
Israeli strikes have been calibrated to degrade Hezbollah’s military capabilities while augmenting Lebanese efforts to enforce disarmament obligations. These actions have focused on weapons stockpiles, tunnel networks, rocket launch sites, and personnel involved in rebuilding Hezbollah’s military capacity.
International agreements calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament, including UNSCR 1701 and the 2024 ceasefire agreement, depend on sustained enforcement and compliance. Hezbollah’s continued noncompliance, combined with the LAF’s limited capacity to fully dismantle the group’s military infrastructure, has left these arrangements fragile and incomplete.
Conclusion
Hezbollah remains a capable, Iran-backed militant force operating on Israel’s northern border. Its continued rearmament and entrenchment pose a real risk of renewed conflict, civilian harm, and regional destabilization. Israel’s actions in Lebanon are intended to manage and reduce that threat before it escalates into a larger war.
For Democrats concerned about protecting civilians, preventing wider conflict, supporting democratic allies, and reinforcing international norms, supporting Israel’s efforts to counter Hezbollah’s military capabilities is prudent and consistent with U.S. interests. The alternative, allowing a heavily armed Iranian proxy to rebuild even partially unchecked, raises the likelihood of a far more destructive confrontation in the future.