Jerusalem Post/Middle EastHezbollah is seeking to use recent Iranian missile attacks on Israel to regain influence in Lebanon, pushing the government toward a more pro-Iran stance.Follow us on GooglePeople hold Hezbollah flags while commemorating Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, May 25, 2026.(photo credit: REUTERS/Raghed Waked)BySETH J. FRANTZMANJUNE 9, 2026 17:09In the wake of the Iranian ballistic missile attacks on Israel, it’s possible that Hezbollah may be emboldened. Hezbollah had felt pressure from US-Israel talks and also Israel’s continued military campaign in Lebanon. It has now received a kind of lifeline from Iran. Iran is trying to preserve Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon. It views Hezbollah as an important card in the Iranian regional deck of cards that Iran uses to control the Middle East.Hezbollah has cheered the Iranian attacks. It is now trying to shift the focus to Lebanon and trying to get Lebanon to repair ties with Iran. Lebanon has tried to expel the Iranian ambassador in recent months. Lebanese leaders have been more outspoken about the negative role of Iran and Hezbollah.Now the pro-Hezbollah Al-Ahbar media in Beirut has said, “Hezbollah calls on the state to correct relations with Iran and affirms: It is Iran that supports us, not the other way around.” The report notes, “Hezbollah called on the Lebanese state to correct its relations with Tehran and to take advantage of the new political developments to achieve its national demands, stressing that ‘Iran supports Lebanon, not the other way around.’”Hezbollah wants Lebanon to change course. Rather than courting Israel, Hezbollah wants Beirut to shift back towards a pro-Iran stance or at least allow Iran to retake control of affairs in Beirut.The axis of 'resistance' against IsraelIn a statement, Hezbollah said that “the Iranian missile response against the Zionist entity in defense of our Lebanese people is a message of moral, political, and field commitment from the Islamic Republic to Lebanon.” In essence, Hezbollah is once again claiming that it is “resisting” Israel and that Iran is helping Lebanon to “resist.” Iran calls Hezbollah and other proxies an axis of “resistance.”Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah wave flags while commemorating Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, May 25, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Raghed Waked)Hezbollah said that the Iranian stance coincided with "the appreciated support from the Ansar Allah [Houthis] movement in Yemen.” This means that Iran is trying to rebuild its multi-front threat against Israel.Hezbollah went on to criticize what it described as "baseless accusations" made by some Lebanese officials against Iran. This refers to a recent interview by Lebanon’s president with CNN. Hezbollah called on the Lebanese authorities to "correct their official relationship with the Islamic Republic in a way that serves the interests of both countries.”The statements show that Hezbollah will try to exploit the recent Iranian attacks by using them to its advantage. It remains to be seen if Hezbollah can return to its former position of power in Lebanon. Lebanon will need to stay the course in talks with Israel and the US to prevent that from happening.Follow us on Google