Down but not out: In war with Israel, Hezbollah shows it is still powerful

Lead

More than a year after the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group has shown signs of resilience, returning to the battlefield in southern Lebanon and reopening key financial operations, according to regional media reports. While the group’s leadership suffered major blows and Lebanon’s government moved to restrict its military and financial activities, recent developments suggest Hezbollah is far from a spent force.

Coverage Comparison

Two distinct narratives emerge from the coverage. Al Jazeera focuses on Hezbollah’s military resurgence, describing how the group has re-engaged in fighting in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire and Israel’s continued strikes. The outlet emphasizes the group’s enduring strength and its political opposition to direct negotiations with Israel.

In contrast, the Jerusalem Post highlights Hezbollah’s financial recovery, specifically the reopening of Al-Qard Al-Hasan, the group’s banking arm, in a Beirut suburb. The report details the Lebanese government’s earlier ban on the association and the ongoing legal ambiguities surrounding its operations.

Both sources acknowledge the group’s continued reliance on Iran and the broader regional context, but they differ in emphasis: one stresses military persistence, the other financial maneuvering.

Key Claims

• Ceasefire and renewed fighting: According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024, but Hezbollah has since returned to the battlefield in southern Lebanon. The report notes that Israel continued periodic attacks over the following 15 months, killing hundreds, and that Hezbollah avoided responding until March 2025, days after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US-Israeli strikes.

• Al-Qard Al-Hasan resumes operations: The Jerusalem Post, citing a Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network report, states that the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association resumed operations on May 9, 2026, even after the IDF targeted 30 of its branches in recent clashes. The branch in the Haret Khreik neighborhood in Beirut’s southern Dahiyya district reopened its doors.

• Lebanon’s ban on the association: In July 2025, the Central Bank of Lebanon issued a ban on all financial institutions from transacting with Al-Qard Al-Hassan, following US pressure, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The association has been under US sanctions since 2007.

• Government’s preemptive action: Sources close to Lebanon’s Interior Ministry told the Jerusalem Post that they had not received official documents from the Central Bank authorizing action against the association but decided to cancel its permits preemptively at the beginning of 2026.

• Hezbollah’s political stance: According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, expressed opposition to direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, reinforcing the group’s hardline position.

• Iranian backing: Both reports note Hezbollah’s continued financial and military reliance on Iran, which remains a central factor in the group’s durability.

Perspectives

Hezbollah’s resilience: Al Jazeera’s reporting frames Hezbollah as a group that, despite heavy losses and leadership decimation, has managed to regroup and reassert its military presence. This perspective emphasizes the group’s adaptive capacity and suggests that earlier assessments of its demise were premature.

Financial maneuvering and legal gray areas: The Jerusalem Post’s coverage focuses on Hezbollah’s ability to operate financially despite sanctions and bans. The report highlights the Lebanese government’s inconsistent enforcement and the association’s direct appeal to the state, suggesting a complex political and legal environment.

Regional tensions: The broader conflict with Iran is central in both accounts. The assassination of Khamenei and the ongoing US-Iran negotiations are presented as pivotal factors that shape Hezbollah’s actions and its future trajectory.

International pressure: The role of US sanctions and pressure on Lebanon’s Central Bank is underscored in the Jerusalem Post report, illustrating the external constraints on Hezbollah’s financial operations.

This article was compiled from reports by Al Jazeera and The Jerusalem Post. The two sources offer complementary but distinct perspectives on Hezbollah’s current status.