At the core of these media operations is Al-Manar TV, a Beirut-based satellite television station that commenced broadcasting in the early Nineties. Al-Manar, alongside a suite of its associated properties, forms the backbone of Hezbollah’s media empire, disseminating content that ranges from news and political commentary to cultural and religious programming.

Hezbollah’s media strategy is multifaceted but emphasises personal narrative in order to humanise its fighters, glorify its military endeavours, and vilify its adversaries — both Israeli and Western. Through vivid imagery and emotive language, its broadcasts and publications aim to cultivate a strong collective identity among its Shiite base, while appealing to a broader Arab and Muslim audiences by framing its cause within the context of regional politics and the struggle against perceived Western imperialism and Israeli expansionism.

One especially conspicuous priority of Hezbollah-aligned media is the lionisation of so-called martyrs — fighters and civilians alike who have been killed by Israel. Al-Manar, for example, publishes brief eulogies in a standard format whenever Hezbollah fighters are killed.

المقاومة الإسلامية تزف الشهيد المجاهد حسن جعفر مرجي "باقر" مواليد عام 1996 من بلدة بليدا في جنوب لبنان الذي ارتقى شهيداً على طريق القدس pic.twitter.com/rmYZQjiJIp

— قناة المنار (@TVManar1) March 10, 2024

Across the digital realm, Hezbollah has adeptly embraced social media, leveraging platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to circumvent the limitations of traditional media channels. Despite facing bans and content restrictions from American companies, the group has continued to innovate in its digital outreach, employing proxies and supporters to disseminate its message, thus ensuring its narratives persist online. Al-Manar’s Twitter profile currently has over 115k followers, consistently engaging with some of Lebanon’s most prominent accounts.

Another route to Lebanese eyes comes in the form of publicly displayed messaging. Billboards, posters, and flags are all commonplace throughout much of the country — often showcasing the group’s distinctive yellow flag with an assault rifle above the words “Party of Allah”.

Hezbollah’s media operations are emblematic of modern hybrid warfare, where information and perception management play a pivotal role. By modulating public opinion, the group not only consolidates its base but also challenges the messaging of its opponents, showcasing the growing sophistication and influence of non-state actors in the contemporary media landscape.

Deaths, particularly those of women and children, make Hezbollah’s information campaigns much more salient, subsequently bolstering the perceived case for further strikes.

Whether or not the brinkmanship across the Blue Line will suck Israel and Lebanon into a broader conflagration remains unclear. What is certain, however, is that Hezbollah will continue to enjoy overwhelming support in Lebanon’s South, as long as the strikes continue and the casualties mount. While Israeli actions are helping to boost Hezbollah recruitment, the significance of the group’s television presence and rapidly expanding social media channels should not be underestimated.

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Sam Forster is a freelance journalist who has lived in Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Dallas, New York, Paris, and Buenos Aires, where he worked as a reporter for the Buenos Aires Times.

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