For much of the past year and a half, Mohsen Abu Zainab, a carpenter and devoted supporter of Hizbollah, felt disillusioned by the group’s restraint amid daily Israeli attacks. However, with the resumption of hostilities on March 2, he and many in the militant organization’s base view the conflict as a turning point that reasserts Hizbollah’s position in Lebanon and the region.

Abu Zainab, who has lost his home, ancestral village, and several family members during Israeli bombardments, said the group "is back on top," reflecting a broader resurgence in morale among Hizbollah supporters. This renewed confidence is largely attributed to an interim deal reached between the United States and Iran, which included Tehran imposing a ceasefire in Lebanon despite objections from Washington, Beirut, and Jerusalem.

Nearly two years after suffering its most significant losses in a conflict with Israel, including the death of its veteran leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbollah has emerged from the 2024 war with greater resolve. Analysts and officials familiar with the group’s internal dynamics suggest Iran’s increased role in Lebanon’s conflict has revitalized the Shia militant group. Tehran’s intervention has marked a shift, notably when the Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched ballistic missile strikes on Israel this month in retaliation for an Israeli attack on Beirut—an unprecedented direct military response in defense of Hizbollah.

Observers note that the relationship between Hizbollah and Iran has grown visibly closer, with Iranian figures becoming more deeply embedded in the group’s military and security structure. Hizbollah has also demonstrated advancements in tactics and technology, deploying explosive and first-person-view drones inspired by recent conflicts such as in Ukraine. These drones have successfully penetrated Israeli defenses, challenging the notion that the group would return to the relative restraint seen during the 15-month interwar period.

Despite this uptick in militant activity, the Lebanese government, strongly backed by the international community, continues to push for Hizbollah’s disarmament and has engaged in indirect negotiations with Israel under U.S. oversight. Hizbollah has opposed these talks and dismissed agreements brokered between Lebanon and Israel as acts of "treason." The U.S.-Iran interim deal, which calls for a full ceasefire, complicates Lebanon’s efforts by undermining Beirut’s approach, which labels Hizbollah as an enemy of the state and seeks to restrict its presence in key southern areas.

Adding to Hizbollah’s emboldenment is the reported direct outreach from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed to have communicated with the group via intermediaries—a controversial move given Hizbollah’s designation as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

While Hizbollah officials deny intentions to destabilize Lebanon’s government, tensions remain high. Since the ceasefire deal, Israeli airstrikes have continued at a reduced intensity, with Hizbollah responding with sporadic rocket fire. Insiders indicate that the true test of the agreement’s durability will depend on Israel’s willingness to halt its aggressive actions.

The humanitarian toll of the recent conflict has been severe, particularly for Lebanon’s Shia community, which has faced disproportionate casualties and displacement—approximately 4,000 deaths and nearly one million people uprooted. This has fostered both resentment among other Lebanese sectarian groups towards Hizbollah and intensified loyalty within its support base, who view the group as their protector amid ongoing insecurity.

Abu Zainab’s sentiments reflect this dynamic: “They have made us proud again. This war is not over and we still need them to fight.”