After almost a year of trading fire, Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are now engaged in ferocious confrontations that threaten to turn into a full-blown war. Hezbollah is considered the strongest paramilitary force in the region and has political and social wings with considerable power in Lebanon. Founded in 1982, Hezbollah was initially devoted to ending Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon and seeks Israel's destruction. In addition to being an armed group, Hezbollah is also a political party with lawmakers in the Lebanese parliament and provides extensive social services in southern Lebanon. Israel estimates that Hezbollah has around 150,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal.