What is Hezbollah’s role and influence in Lebanon? 

Islamist movement is a political and social powerhouse in Lebanon, and conflict between it and Israel is escalating

Lebanese villagers check their house which was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, in Kfar Kila, a Lebanese border village with Israel, south Lebanon. Pictures: AP 

The escalating conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has put a renewed focus on the battle-hardened Lebanese militant group.

The two sides have been exchanging fire since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October last year, but the violence has increased markedly in the past week on the Lebanese side of the border, where Israel killed hundreds of people in strikes on Monday.