In the 1980s, Hezbollah began operating in Lebanon, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the civil war. This period marked the beginning of a series of severe attacks against American targets.
The first notable attack occurred on April 18, 1983, when a car bomb struck the American Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people. This attack was a blow to the American presence in Lebanon.
On October 23, 1983, a truck bomb exploded at the American military headquarters in Beirut. The attack, known as the "Marine Barracks Bombing," claimed the lives of 241 Americans. This attack shocked U.s public opinion and led to the withdrawal of American forces from Lebanon.
Hezbollah continued to target American assets in Lebanon in the years that followed. On September 20, 1984, the American Embassy in Beirut was attacked again, when another car bomb exploded at its gates, resulting in the deaths of 24 people.
One of the most significant events was the kidnapping of CIA personnel in Lebanon. Hezbollah kidnapped several hostages, including CIA officer William Buckley, who was abducted in 1984 and tortured to death. These kidnappings were used as leverage against the U.S.
On June 25, 1996, Hezbollah carried out another attack against Americans, this time at the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, where U.S. soldiers were stationed. The explosion killed 19 American soldiers and injured hundreds.
Hezbollah didn’t stop there and over the years continued attempting to target American assets, even if not always directly. The organization became one of the primary threats to American interests. An updated list of rewards for key Hezbollah figures remain today.
Hezbollah has repeatedly demonstrated that it views the U.S. as a primary enemy in its struggle, employing brutal terror tactics that have claimed the lives of hundreds of Americans over the years. The decapitation of the "snake's head" yesterday-alongside actions from the past two weeks, is certainly at the core of American interests in settling the score and eradicating terrorism.
Dr. Kobby Barda, a NEWSRAEL Contributor, is an expert in American political history and international relations, and a senior researcher at the Haifa Incubator for the Study of Religions of the University of Haifa and the owner of the "America Baby" thesis.