"Hezbollah, just like Hamas, is backed by Israel's arch-rival Iran and is committed to the destruction of Israel. The think tank Counter Extremism Project (CEP) says, 'In February 1985, Hezbollah formally emerged and issued its manifesto. Hezbollah pledged loyalty to Khomeini [Iran's Supreme Leader], demanded the expulsion of foreign forces (i.e., Israel, France, and the U.S.) from Lebanon, called for Israel's destruction, and called for the creation of an Islamic state in Lebanon. As an Iranian proxy, Hezbollah's perceived threat environment is almost identical to Iran’s—Tehran’s enemies are Hezbollah’s enemies. Like Iran, Hezbollah considers the U.S. and Israel to be its chief foes.'"

"Hezbollah is described by the Counter Extremism Project, an organisation which works to combat extremist groups and ideologies, as an .Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-US agenda'...

Under his leadership, the Counter Extremism Project says, 'Hezbollah has assumed many state functions in Lebanon’s Shiite-majority south' including welfare, schools and housing."

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler quoted: "These proxies are the armed groups in the region sponsored by Iran, including the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Hezbollah has repeatedly launched rocket attacks on Israel but, so far, refrained from mounting a broader offensive. A large-scale Israeli ground offensive is still far from certain, Schindler said."

"'Hezbollah has successfully embedded itself into every aspect of Lebanese society—politically, economically, socially, and militarily,' Josh Lipowsky, senior research analyst at the Counter Extremism Project, told The Epoch Times.
'Hezbollah is the strongest military force in the country and holds enough sway in the parliament that it can hold the country hostage by freezing government processes.'"