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The Crisis in Lebanon

By Nelida Gonzalez Cutler

For 34 days this summer, rockets rained down on Israel, and bombs fell on Lebanon. Nearly 4,000 rockets pummeled northern Israel. Air strikes left Lebanon's capital, Beirut, and other cities in ruins. More than 1,000 people, most of them Lebanese civilians, were killed. Since August 14, a shaky cease-fire has been in effect. The Middle East is a complicated place. Here are some answers to questions about the fight between Israel and Lebanon's Hizballah (hez-buhl-lah) group.

What started the war?
On July 12, Hizballah fighters crossed Lebanon's southern border into Israel. They killed eight Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others. Israel responded by attacking Lebanon. Israel hoped to disarm Hizballah and destroy its ability to attack across the border.

What is Hizballah?
Hizballah means "party of God" in Arabic. It is an armed group that formed in 1982 to resist Israel's invasion of Lebanon. Israel left Lebanon in 2000, but Hizballah attacks on Israel continue. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah is the group's leader. He refuses to accept Israel's right to exist. Hizballah is also a political party. It has two representatives in the Lebanese cabinet. In an election held in May 2005, the party won 14 seats in Lebanon's 128-member parliament. It has gained the people's trust by providing schools, hospitals and other aid.

Which nations back Hizballah?
The group is based in Lebanon, but Syria and Iran help Hizballah with military supplies and money. Iran helped create Hizballah to support Lebanon's Shiite (shee-ite) Muslims. Most Iranians belong to the Shiite branch of the Muslim religion. About 20% of Lebanon's 3 million people are Shiite. A Lebanese official told TIME that Iran pumps about $300 million a year into Hizballah.

Whose side is the U.S. on?
The U.S. agrees with Israel that Hizballah is a terrorist group that should be disarmed. The U.S. wants Lebanon's government and army to control the country.

Who won the war?
Both sides claim victory, but there is no clear winner. Israel succeeded in destroying many of Hizballah's rocket launchers. But Israel's overwhelming response to the initial terrorist attack drew criticism. The two kidnapped Israeli soldiers have not been returned.

What's next for Lebanon?
Last week, Tzipi Livni, an Israeli official, warned that the situation in Lebanon is "explosive." As part of the truce, Lebanese army troops moved into southern Lebanon. The United Nations has promised to send 15,000 peacekeepers. But the international community has been slow to commit forces to the risky mission. Italy has agreed to send substantial forces. Last Thursday, France pledged 2,000 troops.

The war left almost 1 million Lebanese homeless. Hizballah says it will give at least $10,000 to each family whose home was destroyed. On August 21, President George W. Bush pledged $230 million in aid. But securing the peace while rebuilding will not be easy. Anger about the conflict still burns on both sides.

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