Hezbollah, officially known as the Party of God, emerged in the early 1980s amidst the backdrop of the Lebanese Civil War and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The invasion catalyzed a diverse coalition of Shiite Muslim groups that sought to counteract foreign aggression and assert Shiite identity in Lebanese society. In 1985, these groups organized under the banner of Hezbollah, inspired by the Iranian Revolution and the writings of Ayatollah Khomeini, and adopted a combination of militant combat and political activism to achieve their objectives. Its founding ideology was deeply intertwined with resistance against Israel, which had invaded Lebanon in hopes of dismantling the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and responding to threats from the armed Lebanese Shiite groups. Hezbollah's activities became characterized by attacks against Israeli forces and their allies in southern Lebanon, alongside social service programs to cultivate grassroots support. The group established its credentials in the resistance against Israel, marking its ascent within Lebanese and regional politics as a significant force, particularly in the southern region of Lebanon where it garnered grassroots support among the Shiite population.