A bomb is dropped, and a ‘BANG’ rings through your ears while the ground and everything begins to shake as if an earthquake had hit. You open the door to peer outside and your lungs are coated with dirt as you try to breathe. People run frantically as rubble lay on the street. Many are injured and families run to find each other. This is life in Lebanon, Israel, and the Gaza Strip, as well as many parts of the Middle East. Israel and Lebanon have been fighting for several decades. Why have they been fighting for so long? The answer to this question isn’t an easy one because there are several reasons.
The conflict started in 1948 with the creation of the state of Israel. In 1948, Britain ruled over Palestine but they later withdrew their troops and Palestine broke up into several territories. Zionist groups were securing most of the land which created the State of Israel. Many Arab countries did not agree with the influence of Zionism and started a war. Several countries including Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria fought against Israel. But most Arab countries were pushed back and Israel was able to secure more territory. The war ended with Israel becoming a country and many Palestinians fleeing the country into places like Lebanon.
After the war, tensions were still high and from then until 1982, Lebanon and Israel exchanged attacks from blowing up planes to killing important officers. Not until 1982 would another war start between Lebanon and Israel. In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon and this time, all the way to Beirut. Beirut is heavily bombed and civilian populations are displaced. Many Palestinian fighters fight against the invasion but are soon evacuated.
Israel had attacked Lebanon because a group called the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), had been attacking Israel and was based out of Beirut. After an agreement was made with PLO, they evacuated. Soon after the evacuation, a right-wing Lebanese militia that was covering for Israel went into two refugee camps Sabra and Shatila, and killed over 2,000 civilian refugees. It took the group 43 hours which they murdered, raped, and mutilated civilians.
In response to the war, Iran’s revolutionary guard created the Shi’ite Muslim group called Hezbollah. During this time Lebanon had been in a civil war but as the war ended in 1992, Hezbollah members entered politics within the country. Hezbollah started to increase its influence around Lebanon by using its new political status around Lebanon. Hezbollah was growing stronger and with Iran’s support, they began bombing parts of Israel. However, in 1993, Israel started a war with Hezbollah which is called the Seven-Day War. After the conflict, over 100 Lebanese Civilians were dead and Lebanon’s infrastructure was broken even more.
Lebanon was now even more damaged after Its Seven-Day War with Israel. But just three years later in 1996, Israel attacked again which lasted 17 days. This time, many civilians on either side were killed and many soldiers from Israel and Lebanon were killed. Both Israel and Hezbollah had been bombing each other and during this, Israel had bombed a United Nations compound that was housing civilians. Over 100 adults and children were killed.
In 2006 now, Hezbollah was known by many around the world and launched a new offensive. Hezbollah military members breached into Israel, Kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, and held them for ransom in return for Lebanese prisoners. The prisoners were returned two years later dead in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners. During the same month, another offensive against Lebanon had started from Israel. This time, over 1,000 Lebanese civilians were killed.
Around three years later, Hezbollah had been becoming powerful in Lebanese politics and had updated their manifesto. Hezbollah was now committing to becoming a democratic form of government. In 1985, it was the complete opposite. Hezbollah though, was still against Israel and was supported by Iran still.
A little more than a decade later, Hamas, another militant group and ally of Hezbollah, had been occupying the Gaza Strip and started a surprise attack on Israeli forces. They started an offensive in southern Israel. Israel has been bombing Gaza because Hamas has been governing the city since 2007. Israel was now bombing south Lebanon and Hezbollah in retaliation. Citizens from both countries fled and tens of thousands seek refuge and still are seeking refuge. Just about a year later, war was still raging between Hezbollah and Israel. Both exchanged attacks over the year but in September 2024, Israel was able to blow up pagers used by Hezbollah forces. Many leaders and higher-ups in Hezbollah were targeted. Many died and the civilians that were around were seriously injured or died.
Israel and Lebanon are very different and separate. Both have different religions and the people’s lives are different in both countries. Citizens in both countries are dying and being bombed every day. Now why have they been fighting for so long? Well, there isn’t a definitive answer because there are so many reasons.
