After 12 days of war, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire late Monday between Israel and Iran. Throughout the fighting, Hezbollah – once considered Iran’s most powerful proxy – offered only verbal support to its patron, without intervening militarily.

Hezbollah’s decision to stay out of the Iran-Israel war was the result of internal and external pressures as the Lebanese militant group faces growing vulnerabilities, a senior US official has told The National.

“The resistance force – I'll call them that – is now under pressure to preserve themselves. They've taken a knee,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There’s nothing that would stop the country to the south [Israel] from carrying out much greater aggression if they [Hezbollah] were to get involved at this point,” he added.

The US official said that Tehran had asked the group not to enter the war to retain “what is left of their strength”.

“Israel wants the Lebanese government to be more aggressive towards Hezbollah,” said the official. “This places the group in a tough position. Many fighters had already moved to Iraq. Lebanese nationalism needs to be front and centre. Joseph Aoun has been clear on this."

Shortly after the Iran-Israel war erupted, Lebanese officials urged Hezbollah not to join forces with Tehran, security sources told The National. The group agreed.

“The group has given reassurances that it has no intention of doing so,” said one of sources. “We know those important missiles can be launched only on orders from Iran."

Hezbollah is still believed to possess medium and long-range missiles, and it continues to command a broad Shiite support base.

A political source in Beirut close to Hezbollah told The National: "Tehran neither needs nor has requested any military support from Hezbollah or other resistance factions. It inflicted pain on Israel itself without any assistance."