KKL-JNF Chair Ifat Ovadia-Luski, who will also speak at the summit, said, "The summit takes place during one of the most challenging periods for the entire Jewish people, a period in which not only the State of Israel faces a test, but also our communities around the world, dealing with a worrying rise in antisemitism. Since October 7, the Jewish National Fund has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate communities damaged in the south and north, and has simultaneously strengthened diaspora communities, which have also mobilized and significantly assisted rehabilitation efforts in Israel. Now we bear the duty to transform that Zionist spirit of the Jewish National Fund into a building force – for state rehabilitation and deepening the connection between Israel and the diaspora."

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The US government previously offered a $5 million reward for information on him. This commander headed the organization's special forces in Syria and Yemen. While in this role, he provided assistance to pro-Iranian militias and the Houthis.

Haytham 'Ali Tabataba'i was designated an international terrorist with a special classification as early as 2016. The US government's website stated, "Tabataba'i's actions in Syria and Yemen are part of a larger Hizballah effort to provide training, materiel, and personnel in support of its destabilizing regional activities."

In recently published footage from the funeral of the commander of the Aziz Unit in Beirut, a Hezbollah operative was seen whose face bore a resemblance to the identity of Tabataba'i. That same operative wore the emblem of the Radwan Elite Force.

Haytham Ali Tabatabai is described as "Hezbollah's chief of staff." During the war on the northern front, the previous commanders considered "chiefs of staff" – Fouad Shukr and Ibrahim Aqil – were assassinated. Another senior commander eliminated along with the organization's secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, was Ali Karaki. Among the senior figures who have survived in the organization thus far is the current secretary general, Naim Qassem, a bland, charisma-less figure. Another senior official is Talal Hamiyah, who leads Unit 910. This unit is responsible for overseas terrorist activities, including attacks against Western targets. In addition to them, Mohammad Haydar, who is considered a "military advisor" in the terror organization and whose status also rose following the series of eliminations, can be mentioned.

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In a forceful statement to The Wall Street Journal, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored the necessity of state control over all arms, pounding his fists for emphasis. "All over the Lebanese territory, the state should have a monopoly on arms," Salam declared. He revealed that roughly 80% of the government's disarmament objectives in southern Lebanon have been met, marking a significant shift in a region long controlled by Hezbollah.

Senior Arab officials told The Wall Street Journal that US-relayed Israeli intelligence has guided the Lebanese army in uncovering and destroying Hezbollah's remaining weapons depots and military posts in the south. The army discards some seized weaponry but integrates usable assets into its own under-equipped arsenal, strengthening its capabilities.

The Lebanese military has solidified its presence south of the Litani River, securing critical access points in areas once dominated by Hezbollah, The Wall Street Journal reported. An Israeli military official noted, "We do see a lot of areas where the Lebanese army is way more effective than expected," adding, "The IDF is generally pleased by this trend and we are expecting it to continue," referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

The government is also pursuing a multi-stage plan to disarm Palestinian armed factions, primarily active in dense refugee camps, The Wall Street Journal noted. In April, Lebanese forces apprehended members of a Palestinian group accused of firing rockets at Israel, a rare move signaling broader disarmament goals.

Under the ceasefire terms, disarmament begins south of the Litani River, near Israel's border, but Salam and US officials push for nationwide efforts, The Wall Street Journal reported. Hezbollah has complied in the south and ceded security control in areas like Beirut's airport, according to senior Lebanese security officials.

Sources familiar with Hezbollah's strategy told The Wall Street Journal that the group's cooperation may reflect efforts to gain political favor as Lebanon seeks reconstruction funds from Western and Gulf states, which often condition aid on measures against Hezbollah. Yet, its commitment to disarmament beyond the south remains uncertain.

Randa Slim, a fellow at the Johns Hopkins Foreign Policy Institute, told The Wall Street Journal, "Unless Hezbollah is willing and ready to disarm itself, I don't see a scenario where a Lebanese government will take the decision to disarm them by force." She proposed tying reconstruction aid for Shia-majority regions to disarmament to increase political pressure on Hezbollah.

Formed during the 1980s civil war and backed by Iran, Hezbollah's arsenal and influence have long eclipsed Lebanon's state institutions, The Wall Street Journal reported. Its significant support within the Shia Muslim community made it a dominant force, wielding one of the world's most powerful nonstate arsenals.

Israel's two-month campaign of intelligence operations, airstrikes, and ground operations decimated Hezbollah's leadership and weaponry, causing thousands of deaths and billions in damages, The Wall Street Journal noted. This weakened Hezbollah's domestic standing, even among some of its base.

Post-ceasefire, Israel has launched hundreds of strikes targeting Hezbollah assets, including in Beirut, according to Unifil, the U.N. peacekeeping force, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Israeli troops remain in parts of southern Lebanon, adding complexity to the region's security dynamics.

Hezbollah's messaging on disarmament remains unclear as it grapples with the aftermath of Israel's campaign, The Wall Street Journal reported. Parliamentarian Ibrahim Mousawi defended the group's arms, stating, "Hezbollah arms that continue to exist in certain parts are points of strength of Lebanon," citing threats from Israel and Sunni extremists in Syria.

The group's ability to rearm has been hampered by the fall of Bashar Assad, which severed key Iranian arms routes through Syria, and by tightened government controls at Beirut's airport, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Fears of escalating tensions loom if Hezbollah resists disarmament north of the Litani River, The Wall Street Journal noted. Both Hezbollah and government officials aim to avoid civil conflict, a concern rooted in Lebanon's history of sectarian strife.

Given its limited resources and the need to navigate Lebanon's Christian, Sunni, Shia, and Druze communities, the army is unlikely to confront Hezbollah militarily, The Wall Street Journal reported. "We don't want to put the country onto a civil-war track, but believe me, this is not going to affect our commitment to the need to extend and consolidate the authority of the state," Salam affirmed.

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Day 359 of the war: Iran has vowed to respond to the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah "at the right time and according to circumstances," while the international coalition has launched strikes against pro-Iranian militia headquarters near the Iraq-Syria border. In a significant development, the IDF has confirmed the elimination of Nabil Qaouk, the deputy of Hezbollah's designated secretary-general, in an operation carried out on Saturday.

18:30: According to the Lebanese Minister of Health: 1,030 people were killed in Lebanon in less than two weeks, not including those from Sidon.

18:25: The Lebanese Ministry of Health: In an Israeli attack on Din al-Delab in Sidon, there are at least 24 dead and 29 wounded.

Tyre, Sidon, Baalbek, Beirut and a dozen other smaller Lebanese cities under massive Israeli airstrikeshttps://t.co/KGLAqcmsSs pic.twitter.com/pJnUk0GrEH

— Victor vicktop55 (@vicktop55) September 29, 2024

 18:15: IDF spokesman in an unequivocal message to Iran: "Anyone who threatens Israel, at any distance necessary, will be hit."

17:15: Strike on Yemen's Hodeidah port.

התגובה הישראלית הגיעה - ובגדול: תמונת מצב עדכנית מחודיידה שבתימן pic.twitter.com/2jTxtpQnpS

— ישראל היום (@IsraelHayomHeb) September 29, 2024

17:03: Hezbollah claims responsibility for rocket barrage toward Rosh Pina.

17:00: Footage: Building collapse in eastern Sidon. According to Arab reports, this is the result of an Israeli attack.

Video: Building collapses in Ein al-Delb, southern Lebanon Credit: Arab media

16:58: IDF Spokesperson: A short while ago, fighter jets struck about 45 Hezbollah targets in the area of Kfara village in southern Lebanon, guided by the Northern Command. Among the targets hit were weapons storage facilities and terrorist infrastructure of the organization. The IDF continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon at this time.

Video: Damage reported in Baalbek and Beqaa following strikes Credit: Arab media

16:54: Footage shows damage from strikes in the Baalbek and Beqaa areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, and an attack near Tyre in southern Lebanon.

الغارة التي استهدفت محيط دوار البص مفرق الزراعة - صور#ملحق pic.twitter.com/Jdg7mJEPbm

— Mulhak - ملحق (@Mulhak) September 29, 2024

16:51: Hezbollah announced it has launched a barrage of rockets toward the city of Safed.

16:51: Sirens in Upper Galilee: Zar'it, Shumera, Shtula.

16:44: Pentagon to bolster Middle East air defenses, extends USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment.

16:37: Sirens in many Upper Galilee settlements, including Rosh Pina and Hatzor HaGlilit. In the previous barrage towards Safed, five launches were fired.

16:26: Hezbollah denies reports of Abu Ali Reda's assassination

16:17: Sirens in Safed

16:11: Syrian dictator Bashar Assad eulogized Nasrallah: "The martyr Nasrallah will remain in the memory of Syrians out of loyalty to his stand at the head of the Lebanese national resistance alongside Syria in its war against the Zionists' tools, despite all the burden he bore. Nasrallah's name will forever remain in the heart of this loyalty."

16:01: Report: A senior official in Hezbollah's Unit 1600, responsible for chemical materials and explosives, was eliminated in the Dahieh attack.

15:54: Reports from Lebanon: Second attack in Dahieh within an hour.

15:49: Saudi channel Al-Arabiya reports from its sources that Mohammed Dahruj, a senior member of Jamaat al-Islamiyah, was attacked in the town of Jub Janine in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley.

15:30: IDF says UN school located 53 meters away from Nasrallah assassination site.

53 meters. That's the distance between a @UN school and Hezbollah's underground headquarters where Hassan Nasrallah was eliminated alongside 20+ additional terrorists.

The terrorists were in Hezbollah's central headquarters, located in the heart of Beirut, embedded beneath… pic.twitter.com/eTor8mBGhU

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 29, 2024

15:06: IDF Spokesperson: Following the alerts activated in the Western Galilee and valleys area, approximately ten launches were identified crossing from Lebanese territory. Some of these were intercepted.

14:46: Lebanon reports: IDF striking in Dahieh, Beirut

14:41: Interception debris falls in Lower Galilee settlements, including Dabburiya and Nof HaGalil.

Video: Direct impact in Dabburiya

14:27: Sirens sounding in numerous settlements in the lower Galilee, Jezreel Valley, and Gilboa regions.

14:25: Sirens in Nahariya and many towns in the Western Galilee.

The dog no longer barks or bites: Graffiti of Nasrallah in Tel Aviv https://t.co/GQYEtL0j58

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) September 29, 2024

14:14: According to a Reuters report, the body of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was extracted intact from the scene in Dahieh, as reported by a medical source. The sources claimed that no direct wounds were found on his body and that the cause of death appeared to be "trauma from the force of the explosion."

13:49: Air Force aircraft carried out a precision strike, guided by intelligence from Military Intelligence and Southern Command, targeting terrorists operating in a Hamas command and control complex. This complex was established in an area that previously served as the Um al-Fahm school in the northern Gaza Strip.

13:29: The Hamas Health Ministry in Gaza: Since the beginning of the war, 41,595 Palestinians have been killed in IDF attacks.

13:26: The Committee of the Iranian Jewish Community announced that it strongly condemns the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. It should be noted that the community was likely forced to publish this statement against its will.

13:10: Lebanon's interim prime minister: The only way to stop the escalation is the diplomatic option.

12:51: Sirens in the upper Galilee.

12:40: Forces of Division 252 in collaboration with the Southern Command's Engineering Corps and the Yahalom Unit located, investigated, and destroyed a tunnel approximately one kilometer long in the center of the Gaza Strip, near residential buildings and within a civilian environment.

Video: IDF destroys kilometer-long Hamas tunnel in central Gaza civilian area Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

12:36: Syrian opposition reported that the attack in the Homs area targeted a vehicle with Iraqi militia militants, with casualties at the scene.https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/09/28/nasrallah-elimination-how-the-iaf-secretly-prepared-and-kept-its-own-crews-in-the-dark/

12:29: The Saudi Al-Hadath channel reports an attack in the Qusayr area in Homs governorate, central Syria.

11:55: Arab media publishes documentation of Hassan Nasrallah's body wrapped in cloth during its preparation for burial.

Video: Nasrallah's body being prepared for burial

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Hezbollah, a powerful militant group based in Lebanon, has become a significant player in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and is currently embroiled in a conflict against Israel. Known for its military prowess and unwavering opposition to Israel, Hezbollah's origins and evolution are deeply intertwined with regional politics and sectarian tensions.

The birth of Hezbollah

The story of Hezbollah begins in an unexpected place: Iran. Once a close ally of Israel, Iran's political landscape shifted dramatically after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini's rise to power marked a turning point as he sought to export his revolutionary ideology throughout the Muslim world.

Lebanon, in the 1970s, was embroiled in chaos, with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) operating in the south and exacerbating existing sectarian tensions. This turmoil created an opportunity for Khomeini to establish a foothold in Lebanon, particularly among the disenchanted Shia population who felt marginalized by the ruling Christian bloc.

The PLO's presence in Lebanon was a double-edged sword. While it led to increased violence and instability, it also opened the door for Iranian influence. Khomeini recognized that the Shia community's discontent could be harnessed to further his objectives. By providing social services and support, Iran cultivated loyalty among the Lebanese Shia, setting the stage for the formation of Hezbollah in 1982.

Hezbollah's emergence

In 1982, amidst the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in response to attacks on communities in Northern Israel, Hezbollah was officially established as a response to the occupation and the PLO's declining influence. The group quickly gained notoriety for its brutal tactics, including suicide bombings targeting Israeli and Western forces. Notable attacks included the bombing of the US Embassy and the barracks of US Marines, leaving hundreds dead.

Hezbollah's manifesto from 1985 outlined its objectives, which included expelling foreign forces from Lebanon and, crucially, the destruction of Israel. This commitment to armed resistance solidified Hezbollah's identity as a militant organization with a clear ideological agenda.

Political and military strategy

After the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990, Hezbollah's status shifted. Unlike other militias that disarmed, Hezbollah retained its weapons and continued its struggle against Israel. This unique position allowed the group to evolve from a guerrilla force into a legitimate political player in Lebanon.

By the early 2000s, Hezbollah had established itself as a dominant military and political force, participating in Lebanese elections and gaining significant representation in the government. This dual identity as both a political party and a militant organization set Hezbollah apart from other groups in the region.

Hezbollah's ambitions extend beyond Lebanon. The group has been linked to various international terrorist activities, including attacks on Israeli targets worldwide. Notable incidents include the bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina and attacks on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria.

These operations demonstrate Hezbollah's capability and willingness to act outside its borders, further complicating the security landscape for Israel and its allies. The group's global reach is supported by Iran, which provides substantial financial backing, estimated at around $700 million annually, enabling Hezbollah to maintain its military capabilities.

Hezbollah's military strength is formidable. With an estimated 150,000 rockets and a well-trained militia, Hezbollah is considered more powerful than the Lebanese army. The group's experience in the Syrian Civil War has further enhanced its combat skills, making it a more dangerous adversary for Israel.

Hezbollah's military strategy includes the use of advanced weaponry and tactics, including the construction of extensive tunnel networks that could facilitate surprise attacks against Israeli forces. These tunnels are a testament to Hezbollah's commitment to military preparedness and its ongoing threat to Israeli security.

Lebanese discontent

Despite its military successes, Hezbollah faces growing discontent among the Lebanese population. About half the population is Christian and generally do not support the group. Many Lebanese are questioning why the group continues to invest heavily in military capabilities while the country grapples with severe economic challenges. This dissatisfaction has led to calls for accountability and a reevaluation of Hezbollah's priorities.

The economic collapse of Lebanon has put pressure on Hezbollah to justify its spending and military focus. As ordinary citizens struggle to make ends meet, the group's commitment to armed conflict is increasingly viewed as a liability rather than a source of pride.

Hezbollah's future remains uncertain. The group's ability to maintain its influence in Lebanon will depend on its responsiveness to the changing political and economic landscape. Moreover, the ongoing tension between Israel and Hezbollah suggests that the threat of conflict is far from over. Israel remains vigilant, prepared to counter any aggression from Hezbollah, which continues to view the destruction of Israel as a central goal.

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The recent killing of a Hezbollah leader, wanted for his involvement in the 1983 Beirut bombings that claimed over 350 lives, has evoked a range of emotions among survivors and victims' families, The New York Times reported. The incident has brought little resolution but has resurfaced decades of pain for many Americans affected by the attacks.

The US had placed a multimillion-dollar bounty on the head of Ibrahim Aqil, who had survived multiple assassination attempts. He was sought for his role in two devastating bombings in Beirut in 1983: an April attack on the US Embassy that killed 63 people, including 17 Americans, and an October suicide bombing of the US Marine Corps barracks that resulted in over 300 deaths, including 241 American service members.

For survivors, the memories of these attacks remain vivid. "Every time I pick up the paper or watch the news about another bombing, it opens up wounds," Michael Harris, a Marine veteran, told The New York Times.

The worst day of my life. My 24 yr old brother was killed along with 240 other marines, soldiers, and a sailor. This tore my family apart, and we never recovered. The Israelis finally gave me some peace for killing the animal responsible for the attack. Too bad our government…

— B. Alexander (@bdalexander46) September 21, 2024

Elisa Camara, 58, from Daytona Beach Shores, Fla, whose brother Mecot was among the Marines killed in the October bombing, expressed mixed emotions about the Hezbollah leader's death. "Justice is served," she said. "That's one less evil person in the world." However, she emphasized the need for continued efforts to combat terrorism to prevent further loss of life.

The bombings left many families without closure through the legal system. Valerie Giblin, 61, of Smithfield, RI, whose husband Timothy died in the barracks attack, shared her unresolved grief. "I was 20 years old," she told The New York Times. "I never remarried. I'll be his wife until the day I die." Upon hearing the news of the Hezbollah leader's death, Giblin's reaction was, "It's about time."

Lisa Weide, 62, from Daytona Beach, Fla, who lost her brother Brett Croft in the barracks attack, echoed similar sentiments. "As cruel as it may sound, I'm glad he's dead," she said. 

Aqil's death comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that broke out after Hamas' deadly attack on Israel on Oct 7. Since then, Hezbollah has continuously attacked Israeli northern communities, further escalating the conflict. 

"My 24-year-old brother was killed along with 240 other marines," a user shared on X. "This tore my family apart, and we never recovered. The Israelis finally gave me some peace for killing the animal responsible for the attack. Too bad our government wasn't up to the challenge." 

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Multiple explosions took place on Tuesday in the southern Dahieh district of Beirut, with hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists reportedly injured, with other explosions and injuries also taking place in villages in the southern part of the country, where the Shiite group is dominant, as well as the Bekka Valley. According to Saudi media, senior members of the terrorist group were injured. After several hours, Hezbollah said: "The explosion of the devices led to the death of a girl, two brothers, and many wounded. Beware of rumors. We are on high alert to defend Lebanon." Lebanon's health minister confirmed at least 11 died and more than 4,000 were injured, among them at least 200 in serious condition. Other reports indicate that 500 lost their vision, according to Saudi media.

One od Hezbollah's lawmakers in the Lebanese parliament, Ali Amar, had his son killed by a blast as well. "My son was killed in the communication device explosion. This was Israeli aggression – we will respond in a language the enemy understands," he said. "We say, 'We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.' We have a day with this enemy, and the days will be between us," he continued. Several sons of other senior Hezbollah members, including of lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah, were injured, some critical.

Hezbollah later blamed Israel for the attack, saying, "After examining the facts, we see the Israeli enemy as fully responsible for the attack on the beepers. We will respond from an unexpected place."

A Hezbollah official called the pager detonations the "biggest intelligence breach yet." A security source informed Reuters that numerous Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, including combatants and medical personnel, suffered severe injuries when their communication pagers unexpectedly detonated.

Video: Live footage from Lebanon

A Lebanese channel reported from an official source that so far, more than 1,000 people have been injured in Lebanon from explosions of pager devices, among them five seriously. The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon was also injured, according to Arab media. The IDF, anticipating a possible retaliation, was on the highest alert in its intelligence and air force dispositions, according to Israeli reports.

Video: The scene of one of the explosions in Lebanon

The Saudi channel Al-Hadath reported from its sources that the explosions involved advanced technology on communication devices, with more than 70 people injured. The channel also reported on a "mysterious operation."

Video: The aftermath of the explosion in Lebanon

The Arabic Sky News network reported several simultaneous explosions of communication devices used by Hezbollah members. Arab channels reported that the operation was carried out "using advanced technology." It Sky News reported that 1,500 are injured and five are dead.

The Ministry of Health in Lebanon has told all citizens to immediately throw away the pagers they own. The explosions come barely two hours after Israel revealed that it foiled a Hezbollah plot to assassinate a former senior Israeli security official.

Topaz Luk, who used to be an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tweeted following the explosions, "This did not age well," as a response to a journalist who doubted Israel would act in Lebanon before late September. The tweet was deleted quickly, and the Prime Minister's Office issued the following statement: "Topaz Luk stopped being a spokesperson for the prime minister several months ago and is not part of the inner circle of advisors."

According to Reuters, Lebanon's crisis operations center, which is run by the Health Ministry, asked all medical workers to head to their respective hospitals to help cope with the massive numbers of wounded coming into for urgent care. It said healthcare workers should not use pagers.

This is a developing story.

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Lebanon's security agencies have launched an investigation into a late-night shooting outside the heavily fortified US Embassy in Aukar, a northern suburb of Beirut. The incident occurred when an unknown assailant fired shots at the embassy. The attacker, a Syrian national, was injured and was taken to a hospital. His motives remain unclear, although according to Arab media he had a ISIS slogan on his weapon.

Local media reported that there was a gunfight for almost half an hour. The embassy said that at "8:34 a.m. local time, small arms fire was reported in the vicinity of the entrance to the embassy." It added that "our facility and team are safe." The US and Lebanon were "in close contact" to determine the circumstances of the incident, the statement read.

The US Embassy said the morning attack by the embassy's entrance did not cause any casualties among their staff, and that Lebanese troops and embassy security mobilized quickly. The Lebanese military said it deployed troops around the embassy and surrounding areas.

In 1983, a deadly bombing attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut killed 63 people. US officials blame the attack on the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. Following that attack, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, north of the capital. Another bomb attack struck the new location on Sept. 20, 1984.

#فيديو #متداول | إطلاق نار في محيط #السفارة_الأميركية في منطقة #عوكر في جبل لبنان وأنباء عن إصابات.#الميادين_لبنان #لبنان pic.twitter.com/NvULi3SFn4

— الميادين لبنان (@mayadeenlebanon) June 5, 2024

In September 2023, Lebanese security forces detained a Lebanese man who opened fire by the US Embassy. There were no casualties in that attack. In October 2023, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces in demonstrations near the US Embassy in support of Gaza's people and the terrorist group Hamas in its war with Israel.

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Judge Tarek Bitar, who is investigating the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion asked security forces on Friday to implement an arrest warrant he issued two months ago for former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil charged over the blast. 

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Bitar asked security forces, via the public prosecutor's office, to implement the warrant against Khalil, else they themselves be prosecuted for defying judicial orders, a senior judicial source told Reuters.

A number of current and former senior politicians and security officials have been charged in connection with the blast that killed more than 215 people, but have refused to be interrogated by Bitar, saying he lacks the authority to do so and is biased.

His probe has repeatedly been stalled by lawsuits filed by suspects seeking his removal. It resumed this week after being suspended for more than a month.

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An investigation into last year's Beirut blast is set to resume after a court rejected the last of several lawsuits that had led the probe to be suspended for more than a month.

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The investigation into the blast, one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded, has faced pushback from a political system where impunity has become entrenched since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

Here's what you need to know about the standoff:

What is the judge investigating?

The explosion that was caused by chemicals left at the port for more than six years and which killed more than 215 people, injured thousands and devastated swathes of Beirut.

Judge Tarek Bitar, 47, wants to interrogate several senior politicians and security officials.

High-level security and government officials "foresaw the significant threat to life ... and tacitly accepted the risk of deaths occurring," Human Rights Watch has said.

Bitar's efforts have become a rallying cry for many Lebanese against decades of unchecked corruption and mismanagement.

Whom does the judge want to question?

Some very powerful people.

The most prominent include former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who is the right-hand-man of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and an ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, and Major General Abbas Ibrahim, head of Lebanon's General Security.

The judge has also sought to question Hassan Diab, an academic who was prime minister at the time of the blast.

Many of them could face prison time if convicted of negligence or causing deaths, although Lebanon has almost no track record of holding to account people in top positions.

All deny wrongdoing.

How are Bitar's efforts being stymied?

All of the current and former officials Bitar has sought to question as suspects have resisted, arguing they have immunity or that he lacks authority to prosecute them.

This resistance to his actions has played out in the courts, in political life and on the streets.

Suspects have swamped courts with more than two dozen legal cases seeking Bitar's removal over alleged bias and "grave mistakes," leading to several suspensions of the probe.

The ex-ministers say any cases against them should be heard by a special court for presidents and ministers.

That court has never held a single official accountable, and it would pass control of the probe to ruling parties in parliament, likely burying hopes of accountability.

Sectarian sensitivities have been brought into play.

The move against Diab, for example, prompted objections from Sunni Muslim political and religious leaders who said it was an attempt to target the position of prime minister, which is reserved for a Sunni in Lebanon's sectarian political system.

Why does Hezbollah care?

Bitar has not charged any known members of Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim group that has powerful political influence and a heavily armed militia. But the judge's actions, including his attempts to question powerful figures allied to Hezbollah as suspects, have prompted the group to accuse him of bias.

In September, a senior Hezbollah official sent him a message warning that the group would "uproot" him.

Hezbollah and its allies have pushed for Bitar's removal via the executive branch, sparking a row that has paralyzed government.

Together with its allies, Hezbollah called for an anti-Bitar protest in October that escalated into deadly violence.

Hezbollah has accused the United States, which lists the group as a terrorist organization, of meddling in the probe. The US ambassador has denied this.

Hezbollah dismissed accusations made at the time of the blast that it had an arms warehouse at the port and says it had nothing to do with the explosion. Its adversaries have long accused the group of controlling the port – something it also denies.

What's at stake?

Any hope of accountability.

For advocates of reform, the tussle over the probe is part of a wider struggle about the rule of law and bringing to account officials for corruption and bad governance responsible for other catastrophes too, including Lebanon's financial meltdown.

Critics say the elite are using their influence to block any attempt to set a precedent of holding officials to account and want to bury any scrutiny of the port's management, which is a microcosm of the sectarian system which parcels out public resources to serve the interests of major players, not the state.

Beirut's already strained ties with Western governments, whose help could prove vital in lifting Lebanon out of its economic crisis, may suffer further if the probe is torpedoed.

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