Key facts
- Donald Trump requested direct talks with Hezbollah via the Lebanese ambassador but was denied.
- Hezbollah faced significant disarray in late September 2024 after Israeli attacks destroyed its headquarters and killed senior leaders.
- Hezbollah commanders suspected their communications were compromised and resorted to in-person meetings.
- The party's decision to attack Israel in October 2023 is viewed as a mistake by some within Hezbollah.
- Hezbollah responded to the killing of Saleh al-Arouri with a rocket attack on an Israeli base.
Donald Trump, during his presidency, reportedly sought direct communication with Hezbollah through the Lebanese ambassador but was denied, according to a report by Middle East Eye (MEE). This revelation comes as MEE details Hezbollah's surprising resurgence and strategic shift following significant Israeli military pressure.
In late September 2024, Hezbollah was reportedly in disarray after Israeli bombings destroyed its headquarters and killed key leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah. Commanders suspected their communications were compromised, leading them to abandon phones and rely on in-person meetings at pre-arranged locations to plan a defense against an impending Israeli invasion. This period marked the beginning of a fightback that revived the movement.
Sources close to Hezbollah suggest that the decision to attack Israel in October 2023 was a significant mistake, made unilaterally by Nasrallah against some opposition within the party's Shura Council. Reports indicate that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had urged Nasrallah to join a coordinated surprise attack, a move that Iran's then-foreign minister indicated Tehran would only support morally.
Nasrallah opted for a contained intervention, initiating a barrage of rockets on October 8, 2023. For a year, cross-border exchanges occurred, resulting in substantial Lebanese casualties but also tying down Israeli forces. However, Israel began escalating, culminating in a January 2024 strike that killed senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in Dahieh, to which Hezbollah responded with a rocket attack on an Israeli base.