Musa al-Sadr, an Iranian-born cleric from a prominent Lebanese theological family, played a pivotal role in mobilizing Lebanon's Shiite community.
Iranian operational and financial support played a crucial role in shaping Hezbollah into a powerful militia, serving as a significant deterrent against Israel.
Additionally, Beirut's emergence as a significant Middle East commercial and cultural hub attracted Iranian elites, with two prime ministers under the last shah receiving their education there.
[8][9][10] Under the Shah's rule, Iran's involvement in Lebanon primarily entailed funding for Shiite social institutions, with a strategic interest in countering radical ideologies and maintaining regional stability.
Al-Sadr's alliances with regional powers marked a significant turning point, signaling a deeper involvement by Iran in Lebanon beyond the initial minimal engagement under the Shah.
Dissenters from Iran arrived in Lebanon during this period, disseminating an anti-Shah message and receiving military training, primarily through the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic and the second-highest religious authority (Marja taqlid) among Lebanese Shiites, has offices in the suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon.
While these offices officially serve as religious headquarters, they are also used by the Iranian intelligence service and Hezbollah for information gathering, political and security meetings, surveillance, and even as military courts and detention facilities.
[34] In September 2021, despite lacking representation in key leadership positions, Lebanese Hezbollah coordinated the importation of over one million gallons of Iranian diesel fuel into Lebanon.
[38] Hezbollah currently possesses a restricted capacity to engage airborne targets, relying on short-range antiaircraft guns, man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) such as the Iranian Misagh (modeled after the Chinese QW-1).
[39] Hezbollah, considered an Iranian proxy and part of the "Axis of Resistance" possesses Iranian-designed rockets, including Raad (Arabic for Thunder), Fajr (Dawn), and Zilzal (Earthquake), which surpass Katyushas in both payload capacity and range.
[40] Weapons and gear including advanced systems, GPS for missiles and more precise rockets were transported via flights to Beirut international Airport which is controlled by the Lebanese armed forces.
[41][42][43][44][45] Critics, particularly Shi'ite Lebanese opponents of Hezbollah, have cautioned that this change allows the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to increase their subversive activities in Syria and Lebanon.
In 2008, the attempt by the March 14 alliance, which opposed Hezbollah, to remove Wafiq Shoukeir, the security chief at Beirut Airport, was one of the factors contributing to the violent riots in Lebanon.
[24] In the midst of a 2006 governmental crisis in Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah urged his supporters to prepare for mass protests with the aim of overthrowing the Western-backed government led by Prime Minister Siniora.
[50][51][52][53][10][54][55] Additionally, the dispute extended to a UN-drafted plan investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, a murder widely suspected to have originated from Syria, a key supporter of Hezbollah.
While the current administration contends its constitutional capacity to operate without the Hezbollah-allied ministers, the potential weakening is notable, given that the Hezbollah axis, predominantly Shiite, represents Lebanon's largest single religious community.
[54][59] In 2022, Sunni former prime minister Saad Hariri retired from Lebanese politics, citing Iranian influence as a reason for his lack of optimism regarding Lebanon's future.
[64][65] The leader of the opposition Kataib party, Samy Gemayel, said in an interview with the Saudi television channel AlHadath that the Lebanese state had surrendered to Hezbollah.
Qom's seminary has a dedicated school for foreign students, offering distinct educational programs that encompass both political and theological training for these individuals.
[24][68] According to The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Iran seeks to persuade Lebanese Shi'ites that the Islamic Republic not only supports their struggle against Israel but also addresses their essential needs.
[24] Among Lebanese Shiite clerics, although a considerable amount advocated in favor of the Iranian Revolution, several have since changed their opinions, but have effectively been forced to keep criticism muted due to the influence of Hezbollah.