Editing Hezbollah (section)

=== Involvement in the Syrian Civil War ===
{{further|Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon|Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian Civil War}}
{{see also|Syrian Hezbollah}}
Hezbollah has long been an ally of the [[Ba'athist Syria|Syrian Ba'athist regime]], led by the [[Al-Assad family]]. Hezbollah has helped the [[Council of Ministers (Syria)|Syrian government]] during the [[Syrian civil war]] in its fight against the [[Syrian opposition to Bashar al-Assad|Syrian opposition]], which Hezbollah has described as a Zionist plot to destroy its alliance with al-Assad against Israel.<ref name="barnard">{{cite news |last=Barnard |first=Anne |date=9 July 2013 |title=Car Bombing Injures Dozens in Hezbollah Section of Beirut |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/world/middleeast/syria.html |access-date=30 August 2013 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |quote=Hezbollah has portrayed the Syrian uprising as an Israeli-backed plot to destroy its alliance with Mr. Assad against Israel.}}</ref> [[Geneive Abdo]] opined that Hezbollah's support for al-Assad in the Syrian war has "transformed" it from a group with "support among the Sunni for defeating Israel in a battle in 2006" into a "strictly Shia paramilitary force".<ref name=abdo>{{cite news|last=Abdo|first=Geneive|title=Why Sunni-Shia conflict is worsening|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/07/opinion/abdo-shia-sunni-tension/index.html|work=June 7, 2013|publisher=CNN|access-date=12 September 2013|date=7 June 2013}}</ref> Hezbollah also fought against the [[Islamic State]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Hezbollah leader vows to fight Islamic State group 'everywhere' |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20150525-hezbollah-fight-islamic-state-syria-nasrallah-lebanon |work=France24 |date=25 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hezbollah seizes much of Islamic State enclave on Syrian-Lebanese border: Nasrallah |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-hezbollah-idUSKCN1B42C2 |work=Reuters |date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

In August 2012, the United States sanctioned Hezbollah for its alleged role in the war.<ref>{{cite news|title=US adds Hezbollah to Syria sanctions list|url=http://www.aljazeera.com//news/middleeast/2012/08/2012810164625825716.html|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]|date=10 August 2012}}</ref> General Secretary Nasrallah denied Hezbollah had been fighting on behalf of the Syrian government, stating in a 12 October 2012, speech that "right from the start the Syrian opposition has been telling the media that Hizbullah sent 3,000 fighters to Syria, which we have denied".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=ArabWorld&article=6018|title=Drone flight over Israel: Nasrallah's latest surprise|date=10 January 2009}}</ref> However, according to the Lebanese ''Daily Star'' newspaper, Nasrallah said in the same speech that Hezbollah fighters helped the Syrian government "retain control of some 23 strategically located villages [in Syria] inhabited by Shiites of Lebanese citizenship". Nasrallah said that Hezbollah fighters have died in Syria doing their "jihadist duties".<ref>{{cite news|last=Hirst|first=David|title=Hezbollah uses its military power in a contradictory manner|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2012/Oct-23/192380-hezbollah-uses-its-military-power-in-a-contradictory-manner.ashx|newspaper=The Daily Star|location=Beirut|date=23 October 2012}}</ref>

In 2012, Hezbollah fighters crossed the border from Lebanon and took over eight villages in the [[Al-Qusayr District]] of Syria.<ref name=alarabiya17feb13>{{Cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/17/266843.html|title=Hezbollah fighters, Syrian rebels killed in border fighting|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=17 February 2013|access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218122629/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/17/266843.html|archive-date=18 February 2013}}</ref> On 16–17 February 2013, Syrian opposition groups claimed that Hezbollah, backed by the Syrian military, attacked three neighboring Sunni villages controlled by the [[Free Syrian Army]] (FSA). An FSA spokesman said, "Hezbollah's invasion is the first of its kind in terms of organisation, planning and coordination with the Syrian regime's air force." Hezbollah said three Lebanese Shiites, "acting in self-defense", were killed in the clashes with the FSA.<ref name=alarabiya17feb13 /><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21496735 "Hezbollah condemned for 'attack on Syrian villages{{'"}}]. BBC News, 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.</ref> Lebanese security sources said that the three were Hezbollah members.<ref name=baalbekfigures>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Feb-25/207786-baalbek-figures-urge-hezbollah-to-stop-fighting-in-syria.ashx |title=Baalbek figures urge Hezbollah to stop fighting in Syria |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]] |date=25 February 2013 |access-date=26 February 2013}}</ref> In response, the FSA allegedly attacked two Hezbollah positions on 21 February; one in Syria and one in Lebanon. Five days later, it said it destroyed a convoy carrying Hezbollah fighters and Syrian officers to Lebanon, killing all the passengers.<ref>[http://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-rebels-claim-successful-attack-on-hezbollah/ "Syrian rebels claim successful attack on Hezbollah"]. ''[[The Times of Israel]]'', 26 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.</ref>

In January 2013, a weapons convoy carrying SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles to Hezbollah was [[January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike|destroyed]] allegedly by the [[Israeli Air Force]]. A nearby research center for chemical weapons was also damaged. A similar [[May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes|attack]] on weapons destined for Hezbollah occurred in May of the same year.

The leaders of the [[March 14 alliance]] and other prominent Lebanese figures called on Hezbollah to end its involvement in Syria and said it is putting Lebanon at risk.<ref name=march14slam>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Feb-19/207007-march-14-psp-slam-hezbollah-activities-in-syria.ashx "March 14, PSP slam Hezbollah activities in Syria"]. ''[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]]'', 19 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.</ref> [[Subhi al-Tufayli]], Hezbollah's former leader, said, "Hezbollah should not be defending the criminal regime that kills its own people and that has never fired a shot in defense of the Palestinians." He said, "those Hezbollah fighters who are killing children and terrorizing people and destroying houses in Syria will go to hell."<ref>[http://www.yalibnan.com/2013/02/26/hezbollah-fighters-dying-in-syria-will-go-to-hell-tufaili/ "Hezbollah fighters dying in Syria will go to hell, Tufaili"]. [[Ya Libnan]], 26 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.</ref>

The Consultative Gathering, a group of Shia and Sunni leaders in [[Baalbek District|Baalbek]]-[[Hermel District|Hermel]], also called on Hezbollah not to "interfere" in Syria. They said, "Opening a front against the Syrian people and dragging Lebanon to war with the Syrian people is very dangerous and will have a negative impact on the relations between the two."<ref name=baalbekfigures /> [[Walid Jumblatt]], leader of the [[Progressive Socialist Party]], also called on Hezbollah to end its involvement<ref name=march14slam /> and claimed that, "Hezbollah is fighting inside Syria with orders from Iran."<ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Feb-24/207737-rival-lebanese-groups-fighting-in-syria-jumblatt.ashx "Rival Lebanese groups fighting in Syria: Jumblatt"]. ''[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]]'', 24 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.</ref>

Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] condemned Hezbollah by saying, "We stand against Hezbollah in its aggression against the Syrian people. There is no space or place for Hezbollah in Syria."<ref>{{cite news |title=Morsi cuts Egypt's Syria ties, condemns Hezbollah |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4392653,00.html |work=[[Ynet News]] |date=15 June 2013 |access-date=13 November 2020}}</ref> Support for Hezbollah among the Syrian public has weakened since the involvement of Hezbollah and Iran in propping up the Assad regime during the civil war.<ref>Eshman, Rob.  [http://www.jewishjournal.com/rob_eshman/article/syrian_wake_up "Syrian wake-up"]. ''Jewish Journal''. 8 May 2013. 8 May 2013.</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2022}}

On 12 May 2013, Hezbollah with the Syrian army attempted to retake part of Qusayr.<ref name="Hezbollah in Q 2013">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/world/middleeast/syrian-army-moves-to-rebel-held-qusayr.html?pagewanted=all|title=Hezbollah Aids Syrian Military In a Key Battle |date=20 May 2013 |work=The New York Times |access-date=4 September 2013 |author1=Barnard, Anne |author-link=Anne Barnard |author2=Saad, Hwaida |author2-link=Hwaida Saad }}</ref> In Lebanon, there has been "a recent increase in the funerals of Hezbollah fighters" and "Syrian rebels have shelled Hezbollah-controlled areas".<ref name="Hezbollah in Q 2013" />

On 25 May 2013, Nasrallah announced that Hezbollah is fighting in the Syrian Civil War against [[Islamist|Islamic extremists]] and "pledged that his group will not allow Syrian militants to control areas that border Lebanon".<ref name="Hezbollah 2013">{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/hezbollah-chief-says-group-fighting-syria-162721809.html |title=Hezbollah chief says group is fighting in Syria |agency=Associated Press |date=25 May 2013 |access-date=25 May 2013 |author=Mroue, Bassej}}</ref> He confirmed that Hezbollah was fighting in the strategic Syrian town of Al-Qusayr on the same side as [[Assad]]'s forces.<ref name="Hezbollah 2013" /> In the televised address, he said, "If Syria falls in the hands of America, Israel and the [[takfiris]], the people of our region will go into a dark period."<ref name="Hezbollah 2013" />