Formed in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, this Lebanon-based radical Shia group takes its ideological inspiration from the Iranian revolution and the teachings of the late Ayatollah Khomeini. The Majlis al-Shura, or Consultative Council, is the group’s highestgoverning body and is led by Secretary General Hasan Nasrallah. Hizballah is dedicated to liberating Jerusalem and eliminating Israel, and has formally advocated ultimate establishment of Islamic rule in Lebanon. Nonetheless, Hizballah has actively participated in Lebanon’s political system since 1992. Hizballah is closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran but has the capability and willingness to act independently. Though Hizballah does not share the Syrian regime’s secular orientation, the group has been a strong ally in helping Syria advance its political objectives in the region.

Hizballah operates in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Beka’a Valley, and southern Lebanon. Has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Asia.   Hizballah also provides guidance and financial and operational support for Palestinian extremist groups engaged in terrorist operations in Israel and the occupied territories. In 2004, Hizballah launched an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that left Lebanese airspace and flew over the Israeli town of Nahariya before crashing into Lebanese territorial waters. Ten days prior to the event, the Hizballah Secretary General said Hizballah would come up with new measures to counter Israeli Air Force violations of Lebanese airspace.

In February 1985 Sheik Ibrahim al-Almin  publicly declared the group's manifesto. According to "The Hizballah Program" the principles of its ideology comprise:

To expel Americans, the French and their allies definitely from Lebanon, putting an end to any colonialist entity on our land.

To submit the phalanges to a just power and bring them all to justice for the crimes they have perpetrated against Muslims and Christians.

To permit all the sons of our people to determine their future and to choose in all the liberty the form of government they desire. We call upon all of them to pick the option of Islamic government which alone is capable of guaranteeing justice and liberty for all. Only an Islamic regime can stop any future tentative attempts of imperialistic infiltration onto our country.

It also includes complete destruction of the state of Israel

It is reported in late 2007 and early 2008 that Hizballah has replenished and increased it's military potential.  In Lebanon they have continued to disrupt the political arena and at times it appears that the country is split among who has the real power over the people or is Hizballah a welcome militant group to the Lebanese government.  During the 2006 war with Israel Hizballah acted unmolested by the government as the organization launched rockets into Israel.  It appears only a matter of time once again before the group plans a new war against Israel.

It may not be considered a war on a major scale however the war between Hizballah and Israeli Defense Personnel changed the way the the world looked at this militant / political party.  Israel destroyed Lebanons infrastructure in the South and Beirut was hit very hard.  In the end though, Israel did not accomplish it's true main objective which was to rout and break Hizballah while rescuing two missing Israeli soldiers. It proved once again that it is difficult for a convetional army to operate against very mobile Militias.  Precision bombing by Israel was not enough to destroy Hizballah.  Militias, especially one as organized and thought out as Hizballah, put conventional militaries at a disadvantage.  The main disadvantage is that they blend with the public at large and use religious and populated  buildings for protection.  Unless the conventional military is willing to risk extremely negative world reaction to large number of civilian casualties or to risk high numbers of casualties of their own by using ground troops to go house to house to root out the militants, this style of fighting will continue to give militants an unfair advantage.

July 12, 2006 members of Hizballah crossed the Lebanese-Israeli border near Shtula, an Israeli farming village, and ambushed  two Israeli Army Hummvees. Hizballah captured two Israeli soldiers and murdered three others. Five more Israeli soldiers were killed in the ensuing pursuit of Hizballah members into Lebanese territory. The capture of two soldiers and the deaths of 8 others enraged the Israeli public. Hizballah began firing katyusha rockets into Northern Israel and continued throughout the war.  The rocket attacks went further into Israel than any rockets in the past.  Hizballah claimed that the rockets could reach farther if needed to Tel Aviv. 

The ambush, ensuing casualties  and kidnapped soldiers resulted in immediate retaliation by the Israeli military, which responded  by bombing roads, bridges, and power plants inside Lebanon. The specific targeting of al-Manar, the Hizballah controlled television station, and the Lebanese international airport as well as the blockading of Lebanon’s sea ports in an attempt to force the release of the captured Israeli troops. These retaliatory actions by Israel resulted in the deaths of dozens of Lebanese civilians. During the Lebanese-Israeli conflict of 2006, Hezbollah fired 3,970 rockets into Northern Israel  in the course of a month, killing 43 Israeli civilians