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The Secret of 100,000 Warriors: How Strong Was Hezbollah's Military Force?
Hezbollah, a Shia Islamic political party and armed organization originating in Lebanon, has been widely regarded as one of the most powerful non-state actors in the world today due to its strong military force. According to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the group has about 100,000 trained fighters. Regardless of how external assessments change, their military strength seems to have surpassed the Lebanese Army, forming a powerful hybrid military force with solid conventional and unconventional combat capabilities.
“Hezbollah has invisibly built an impenetrable military base whose mission is to resist Israeli military operations.”
According to US estimates in 2018, Hezbollah's military budget reached $700 million, part of which was funded by Iran's support. Hezbollah's main enemy is Israel, whose military strength is largely based on rockets. Estimates of the number of rockets Hezbollah possesses range from 40,000 to 120,000, a number far greater than many sovereign states.
In addition, Hezbollah has a limited supply of anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, and thousands of anti-tank missiles. While they do not have the capability to use manned aircraft, tanks, or armored vehicles in the Lebanese region, they do have T-55 and T-72 tanks in neighboring Syria. Together, these facts paint a picture of a vast and hidden weapons arsenal, housed in tunnels and bunkers in south Lebanon, and backed by a powerful intelligence apparatus. Especially in sunny South Lebanon, Hezbollah has excellent concealment and fire support capabilities, giving them an advantage in combat.
While Hezbollah's light infantry and anti-tank squads are widely praised, Hezbollah as a whole is still considered inferior to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in terms of "quantity and quality" in conventional warfare. 」
According to historical review, the formation of Hezbollah can be traced back to the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. In 1982, faced with Israeli aggression and occupation by the Palestine Liberation Organization, Lebanon's Shia community chose to create Hezbollah, which underwent a more explicit organizational reorganization in 1985. From then on, Hezbollah quickly developed into the main force to resist Israeli aggression, and its tactics continued to mature over time.
In 1986, the CIA estimated that Hezbollah's military strength was competitive with Lebanon's major militias. They began to change their previous human wave tactics, paying more attention to the deployment of small teams and focusing on dealing with the Israeli army with precise firepower and well-planned attacks. In the process of fighting against Israel, they constantly adjusted their strategies and upgraded their technologies in order to maintain their advantage in the ever-changing battlefield environment.
"After a period of hard work and adjustment, Hezbollah gradually became a well-trained, well-armed and highly motivated combat force, and made significant progress in the use of tactics."
By 2000, Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon, at which time Hezbollah rapidly expanded its military infrastructure and strengthened its armaments. By 2006, Hezbollah's military strength had reached an unprecedented level of strength. They launched a bloody confrontation with Israel with a combination of high gun density and rocket attacks, and successfully resisted the offensive of the Israel Defense Forces. The 34-day war once again demonstrated Hezbollah's military capabilities and influence in the local community.
Hezbollah's tactics were centered around a "complex defense grid" and demonstrated an excellent command and control structure. They employed many tactical elements of modern warfare in their combat, organizing themselves into small, self-sufficient units and launching planned preemptive attacks. These characteristics enable Hezbollah to maintain its fighting power even when facing Israel's high-tech army.
Hezbollah's military power and political influence make him a vital figure in Lebanon's political situation. As regional situations evolve and military conflicts escalate, Hezbollah remains a force to watch in the Middle East.
What role will such an organization with 100,000 well-trained soldiers continue to play in future wars?
