The Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah is close to Hamas, and has attacked Israeli targets on a daily basis since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. Israel has responded with attacks in Lebanon. So far, more than fifty members of Hezbollah and at least five Israeli soldiers have been killed in the fighting in the border area, and there is growing concern that another war front will open up.
According to Nicholas Blanford, an expert on Hezbollah, Lebanon itself cannot be involved in deciding whether the war will spread into the country.
"Ultimately, the decision lies with Iran. The Lebanese are completely powerless. Lebanon's prime minister admitted last week in an interview that the decision on war and peace is not in his hands, he said.
Hezbollah is classified as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and Germany. The EU has designated its armed wing as a terrorist organisation.
Listen to Nicholas Blanford talk about the situation in the Lebanon-Israel border area in the clip.