Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based Shiite political and militant group and a major force in the Middle East. It was founded in 1982 following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and is now a major political player in the country, as well as a powerful military organization. The group is backed by Iran and is dedicated to the establishment of an Islamic state in Lebanon, as well as the destruction of Israel. It has staged numerous attacks against Israel and has been blacklisted as a terrorist group by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia. Hezbollah reportedly receives funding, arms and training from Iran, and has built up an extensive arsenal that includes missiles capable of striking deep into Israel. It also fields some 10,000 fighters in Syria, where it has been supporting the Assad regime. Hezbollah has been accused of war crimes during the Syrian Civil War and has been linked to numerous terrorist attacks in Lebanon and throughout the region.
