How Israel’s Battle With Lebanon’s Hezbollah Fits Into the Iran War

When the Lebanese militia Hezbollah entered the US-Israeli war against Iran by firing rockets and drones into Israel the day after the conflict began on Feb. 28, officials there saw in the crisis sweeping the region a chance to finally drive the militia, already weakened by a series of setbacks, away from Israel’s northern border. They’ve been loath to give it up.

After the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 7, Israel actually escalated its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah, casting a cloud over the truce. Ten days later, Israel and Lebanon agreed to their own ceasefire, but Hezbollah was not a party to it and fighting has continued sporadically.