What you need to know about Hezbollah, the group backing Hamas against Israel

Lebanon's Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has engaged in a deadly exchange of fire with Israel, escalating tensions in the region. Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Islamist group, has a powerful military with advanced weapons and has played a role in conflicts in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. It has deep ties to Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon is controversial, with supporters viewing it as a defender against Israel, while opponents accuse it of undermining the state. Western countries, including the US, consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization.