Revolutionary iran seeks regional primacy in the near east. These groups include the organization of the oppressed, the revolutionary justice organization, the organization of right against wrong, and followers of the prophet muhammad. Hezbollah also transliterated hizbullah, hizballah, etc. Many analysts have sought to measure whether hezbollah has registered a net loss or gain through its syria adventureand whether the group is weaker or stronger for its troubles. Hezbollah has a 30year history of terrorist activity in lebanon, the middle east and around the globe, directed against israel, the jewish people, the united states and the west, prowestern arab states and hezbollahs enemies in lebanon. Years later, on july 12, 2006, hezbollah, in an attempt to pressure israel into releasing three lebanese jailed in israeli prisons, launched a military operation against israel, killing a number of israeli soldiers and abducting two as prisoners of war.
Lessons of the 2006 israelihezbollah war center for. Hezbollahs main goals during the civil war were to fight against western influences and create an islamic state in lebanon. Hezbollah aims to introduce the islam that is confident in achieving justice, as well as introducing the islam that protects all human rights hezbollah. National security interests in the middle east prepared testimony of daniel byman professor and senior associate. The shiite militant group and political party is a player not just in lebanon, where it is based, but across the broader middle east. Terrorist groups often shorten quranic verses that outline islamic rules of engaging in conflict, and take them out of context to justify their agendas, spread hate, and recruit resistance, says maher hathout, author of jihad vs. Years later, on july 12, 2006, hezbollah, in an attempt to pressure israel into releasing three lebanese jailed in israeli prisons, launched a military operation against israel, killing a number of israeli soldiers and abducting two as. The war has led to extensive criticism from military experts within israel, as well as the work of the winograd commission. Chapters four and five trace the activities and tactics of hezbollah as the key force in the resistance. Hezbollah has a military branch and is the sponsor of a number of lesserknown groups, some of which may be little more than fronts for hezbollah itself. Hezbollah and the party of resistance, because hezbollah is a political party, a resistance party, and the party of striving in the path of god almighty and service of the human being. Hezbollah is a shia islamic militant group and political party based in lebanon. Nortons history is a good corrective to the stereotypes of hezbollah. Threat assessment summary chart adversary insider, terrorist.
Even though hezbollah and hamas have in the past held different position on how to. Donna robinson divine this book begins with what the author claims is a puzzle. Hezbollah simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. They wish to present a picture of islam that is logical, practical. He takes account of iranian influence,but stresses the importance of lebanese nationalism in the organisation. One lebanese source described the shawraba case as one of the most significant security breaches in the history of hezbollah. Pdf on jan 1, 2007, melani cammett and others published hezbollah. Since the beginning of 20, hezbollah fighters have operated openly and in significant numbers across the border alongside. State department since october 1997 hezbollah refers to itself with multiple titles including the organization of the. There is a seeming contradiction between us and israeli perceptions of. Hezbollahs illegal fiber optic communications network and described such activities on the part of hezbollah as an attack on the sovereignty of the state. Apwide world photos by early 1983, the multinational force made up of u. They are a client organization of iran and syria, organizing lebanese shiites and competing with the more moderate shiite party led by nabih berri.
As former undersecretary of state richard armitage noted, hezbollah is the gradea of terrorist organisations12. Hezbollah conducts two devastating suicide bombings against americans in beirut. Due to the lebanese peoples historical wariness of iranian and syrian. Irans shia government, frequently through hezbollah, has systematically engaged the regions sunni radicals to. A short history by augustus richard norton find, read. The united states embassy building in beirut, after being struck by a suicide bomber on april 18, 1983. Encyclopedia of jewish and israeli history, politics and culture, with biographies, statistics, articles and documents on topics from antisemitism to zionism. The role of hezbollah in lebanese domestic politics. Fouad siniora formed the lebanese government of july 2005, a national unity government, consisted of all the main political blocs in the lebanese parliament, except for the free patriotic movement fpmled bloc headed by general michel aoun. The intent and capability columns are populated with high, medium, or low ratings and the history column is populated with a yes or no response. He added that all of hezbollahs resources, including leadership, members, and different. The lessons from the israelilebanon war in 2006 are now far clearer than they were during the fighting and its immediate aftermath.
Its members are shia muslims, which are the largest islamic denomination in lebanon. For the first time, hezbollah was represented in the cabinet, holding two. Risk management tableschartsworksheets impactrisk and. Citing mounting evidence, the united states accused hezbollah, syria, and iran of seeking to destabilize the current lebanese government headed by prime minister fuad siniora. With its history of carrying out global terrorist attacks, parts of. The president must be a christian, the prime minister is a sunni muslim, and the speaker of the national assembly is a shia muslim. He traces the root of the organisation to the late 1970s. A short history by augustus richard norton article pdf available in middle east studies association bulletin 412. Iran and hezbollah arrive in south america throughout the lebanese civil war 1975.
As this study points out, however, it also marked the third time that israel miscalculated the strategic consequences of intervention in lebanon. Hezbollah and other shiite groups didnt resist israeli occupation from 1982 onwards because of antisemitism. Hezbollahs history, ideology, goals and operational capabilities the recent wave of antiamerican demonstrations in egypt and the murder of an american ambassador and three embassy staff workers in libya makes it clear that americas global war on terrorism has. It receives financial and political support from iran and syria, and its paramilitary wing is regarded as a resistance movement throughout much of the arab and muslim worlds. Hezbollahs deepening involvement in syria is one of the most important factors of the conflict in 20 and 2014. The theological, political, and operational development of a new tactic by helmer, daniel. The lebanese hezbollah hizbollah, hezbullah, hezbu allah and other spellings was founded in lebanon in the 1980s in response to the israeli invasion. Hezbollah role in government 2005 siniora government. Syrian war and hezbollah in lebanon have likewise contributed. Because of this, it believes that the state of israel should not exist, and. It has kept saying that syria s part of the same axis of resistance to israel, and that the aim of. Recruitment practices of hezbollah, including instances of forced recruitment. The european union, other arab states, and the united nations all have been. The shiite jihad in syria and its regional effects pdf report.
It wants freedom for the palestinian people in palestine. The key vehicle for shiite selfexpression, hezbollah the party of god emerged as a product of this conflict in the form not only of a militant organization but also of a shadowy statewithina. Syrias role in lebanon recent days have witnessed increasing tensions between the united states and hezbollah and its syrian and iranian backers. At the same time, the resurgence of the hezbollah, and its partial rearming, have demonstrated just how difficult. The group has killed more americans than any other terrorist group except alqaida and has carried out numerous attacks. The group does not recognize the legitimacy of israel and it has been labeled as a foreign terrorist organization fto by the u. Hezbollah, also known as the party of god, is a radical shia muslim group fighting against israel and western imperialism in lebanon. A short history by augustus richard norton, princeton university press, 2007, 183 pp. Most of hezbollahs support comes from shiite muslims, who were marginalized by lebanons confessional system of political representation for most of the countrys history. A history of terrorism hezbollah is an iranianbacked, lebanonbased terrorist network with global reach that poses a direct threat to american interests at home and abroad. Hezbollah was the only militia not to disarm after the lebanese civil war. Hezbollah has remained ideologically true to its hardline theocratic raison detre despite its carefully cultivated image as a modernised, fully integrated political apparatus. For a historical analysis from hezbollahs perspective. The new hezbollah manifesto november 2009 hezbollahs new political document aims to define the political vision of the party.
A his tory of terrorism hezbollah is an iranianbacked, lebanonbased terrorist network with global reach that poses a direct threat to american interests at home and abroad. He was subsequently promoted to director of hezbollahs unit for foreign operations, also known as unit 910, which conducts intelligence operations on israeli targets abroad. While it appears that the lebanese shia paramilitary group known as hizballah may have lost its bid for a parliamentary majority in the most heavily attended, significant and controversial parliamentary election in lebanese history, dont count them out yet. The history of hezbollah, from israel to syria lebanon. This article will explore the origins of iranian and hezbollah presence in latin america, which dates back to the 1980s, and examine their continued and grow ing influence today. From the beginning, hezbollah has tried to link the fight in syria to israel, she said. Thirty years ago, three spectacular attacks in beirut over an 18month period announced the debut of a potent new force in lebanonthe shiite hezbollah militia and defined its relationship.
Immigration and refugee board of canada 4 november 20 lbn104638. Collection capability assessment chart, and history from history assessment chart and assign an overall threat level rating. To obtain a pdf copy of an rir attachment please email basesdedonnees. Hezbollah table of contents jewish virtual library. This book assesses all aspects of israels goals in the war, from crippling the iranian. The 2006 israelihezbollah war marked the third time in less than a quarter century that israel conducted major military actions in lebanon. Hezbollah also receives hundreds of millions of dollars pdf from. According to a united states cia world factbook estimate, shias comprise 28. Background and issues for congress congressional research service 1 overview and key issues lebanons hezbollah1 party of god is a shiite islamist militia, political party, social welfare organization, and u. The role of hezbollah in lebanese domestic politics augustus richard norton hezbollah is the product of a quarter century of history. Hezbollah originated within the shia block of lebanese society.