Mounting frictions between the two sides appear to be part of Chinas efforts to disrupt the ties between South Korea and the United States but could end up drawing the two allies even closer. by Jeffrey Goldberg", "Anne Dammarell et al. Kata'ib Hezbollah - Wikipedia According to certain sources, IJO was identified as merely a "telephone organization",[97][98] and whose name was "used by those involved to disguise their true identity. Hezbollah denounced, and protested against, the resolution. ", "Larijani: Iran proud of backing Hezbollah", "Hezbollah Finances Funding the Party of God. "The Bosnian Muslim government is a client of the Iranians," wrote Robert Baer, a CIA agent stationed in Sarajevo during the war. Hezbollah (Party of God) is a Shi'ite political and military party in Lebanon, founded with extensive Iranian backing in 1982 to fight Israel in the country's south. The following entities have listed Hezbollah as a terror group: The following countries do not consider Hezbollah a terror organization: The United States Department of State has designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization since 1995. [213] Since then both Israel and Hezbollah have asserted that the organization has gained in military strength. Kata'ib Hezbollah A senior Hezbollah official said an unintentional incident had led to the death of an Irish soldier on a UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, saying the armed group was not involved. It also advocated an Iran-inspired Islamist regime, but emphasized that the Lebanese people must have the freedom of self-determination. Benyamin Avraham, and Staff Sgt. "[215] In 2009, a Hezbollah commander (speaking on condition of anonymity) said, "[W]e have far more rockets and missiles [now] than we did in 2006. "[448] Following the 2006 War, other Lebanese including members of the government were resentful of the large damage sustained by the country and saw Hezbollah's actions as unjustified "dangerous adventurism" rather than legitimate resistance. Hezbollah The Sunni Muslim population had grown with the arrival of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, while Shiite Muslims felt increasingly marginalized by the ruling Christian minority. [218], In 2009, the Resistance Brigades were reactivated, mainly comprising Sunni supporters from the southern city of Sidon. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by. the Lebanese army to counterweight Hezbollah has transformed into a major player in the Lebanese political scene. [467], Former Swiss member of parliament, Jean Ziegler, said in 2006: "I refuse to describe Hezbollah as a terrorist group. [55][56] Hezbollah also has support in some Christian areas of Lebanon. "The Shiite Hezbollah has indeed become a trusted mentor and role model to the Sunni fundamentalist Hamas. Explainer: How Hezbollah widens Iran's Middle East reach Al Arabiya News. [442] This position has prompted criticism from anti-government Syrians. Turkish intelligence sources denied the report and said "Israel is in the habit of creating disinformation campaigns using different papers. [186] The Hezbollah Central Internet Bureau released a video game in 2003 entitled Special Force and a sequel in 2007 in which players are rewarded with points and weapons for killing Israelis. Irish soldier killed in attack on UN convoy in Lebanon These weapons have been used against IDF soldiers, causing many of the deaths during the 2006 Lebanon War. "[288], On 25 May 2013, Nasrallah announced that Hezbollah is fighting in the Syrian Civil War against Islamic extremists and "pledged that his group will not allow Syrian militants to control areas that border Lebanon". [275], In August 2012, the United States sanctioned Hezbollah for its alleged role in the war. [346], A more recent poll by the pro-Israel, American Washington Institute for Near East Policy declared that support for Hezbollah is declining significantly. With its history of carrying out global terrorist attacks, parts of Hezbollahand in some cases the entire organizationhave been designated as a terrorist group by the United States and many other countries. Hezbollah was responsible for thousands of Katyusha rocket attacks against Israeli civilian towns and cities in northern Israel,[254] which Hezbollah said were in retaliation for Israel's killing of civilians and targeting Lebanese infrastructure. [173] The electoral slogan of the party was 'We will construct and we will protect'. NATO will strengthen its partnership with Ukraine at its upcoming Vilnius summit, but the failed coup in Russia could add to divisions over membership. In recent years, long-standing alliances with Iran and Syria have embroiled the group in the Syrian civil war, where its support for Bashar al-Assads regime has transformed Hezbollah into an increasingly effective military force. ", " A New French Headache: When Is Hate on TV Illegal? [87] Amal, the main Lebanese Shia political group, initiated guerrilla warfare. "[326][425] During the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin condemned attacks by Hezbollah fighters on Israeli forces in south Lebanon, saying they were "terrorism" and not acts of resistance. On the day of the act's introduction, Congressman Darrell Issa said, "Hezbollah is a terrorist group and a cancer on Lebanon. [166] Hezbollah, along with the Amal Movement, represents most of Lebanese Shi'a. [179] It is the only media outlet which is openly affiliated with the organization. Various Lebanese sectarian communities held different positions on the nature of the Palestinian challenge. "[191]:775 This close connection with Lebanese intelligence helped bolster Hezbollah's financial counterintelligence unit. It is a national movement of resistance."[468]. [270], In August 2010, in response to notification that the UN tribunal would indict some Hezbollah members, Hassan Nasrallah said Israel was looking for a way to assassinate Hariri as early as 1993 in order to create political chaos that would force Syria to withdraw from Lebanon, and to perpetuate an anti-Syrian atmosphere [in Lebanon] in the wake of the assassination. According to U.S. government assessments, [303] The organization had recruited a former resident of Minnesota and a military linguist, Mariam Tala Thompson, who disclosed "identities of at least eight clandestine human assets; at least 10 U.S. targets; and multiple tactics, techniques and procedures" before she was discovered and successfully prosecuted in a U.S. [331] It is also a close Assad ally, and its leader pledged support to the embattled Syrian leader. p. 140, Third World Quarterly, Vol 14, No 2, 1993, reprinted at Al Mashriq, Reuters, 12 September 2006; Al-Hayat (London), 13 September 2006. Orion told CFR that the more precise weaponry being provided by Iran ensures that Hezbollah will become an increasingly dangerous threat to Israel. [293] The investigation by the DEA found that Hezbollah made about a billion dollars a year and trafficked thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. Hezbollah Even after Israel officially withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, it continued to clash with Hezbollah, especially in the disputed Shebaa Farms border zone. Hezbollah has also been the target of bomb attacks and kidnappings. Hezbollah has been blamed for attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets abroad, including the 1994 car bombings of a Jewish community center in Argentina, which killed eighty-five people, and the bombings of the Israeli Embassy in London. [356] Hezbollah maintains that it is a legitimate resistance movement fighting for the liberation of Lebanese territory. [431], The United States,[370] the Gulf Cooperation Council,[350] Canada,[382] United Kingdom,[369] the Netherlands,[393] Israel,[33] and Australia[379] have classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Sent Ukraine? The position, located across from an Israeli military base, was reportedly manned by three to eight armed terrorists. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which monitors such events said a warehouse for Iranian militias and Hezbollah located within Shayrat air base were destroyed in Sunday's strike. Hezbollah A 2014 report from the Pew Research Center found that 31 percent of Christians and 9 percent of Sunni Muslims held positive views of the group. In 1982, Hezbollah was conceived by Muslim clerics and funded by Iran primarily to fight the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. [195], In 2010, Hezbollah was believed to have 45,000 rockets. Khobar Towers bombing Here Are Six Charts. Credit: Alma. Russia has considered Hezbollah a legitimate sociopolitical organization,[371] and the People's Republic of China remains neutral and maintains contacts with Hezbollah. Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, Marcelo Martinez Burgos, and their "staff of some 45 people"[325] said that Hezbollah and their contacts in Iran were responsible for the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Argentina, in which "[e]ighty-five people were killed and more than 200 others injured. Congress members Tom Lantos, Jim Saxton, Thad McCotter, Chris Shays, Charles Boustany, Alcee Hastings, and Robert Wexler referred to Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in their speeches supporting the legislation. [135] This was after Hezbollah's Al-Manar television channel complained, asking how long Lebanon would "remain an open arena for the Zionist invasion of education? WebIsrael and Hezbollah fought to a draw in a monthlong war in Lebanon in 2006. The European Union has taken a less aggressive approach to Hezbollah. Lebanon. [42] In August 2008, Lebanon's new cabinet unanimously approved a draft policy statement that recognizes Hezbollah's existence as an armed organization and guarantees its right to "liberate or recover occupied lands" (such as the Shebaa Farms). Powered and implemented by . History Formation The group has faced unprecedented scrutiny from the Lebanese public amid the countrys political and economic crisis. "[267] Netanyahu said that the attack in Bulgaria was just one of many that Hezbollah and Iran have planned and carried out, including attacks in Thailand, Kenya, Turkey, India, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Georgia. 20 Dec 2016. [172] On 22 March 2018, Nasrallah issued a statement outlining the main priorities for the parliamentary bloc of the party, Loyalty to the Resistance, in the next parliament. Last Updated. Northern District, Israel. [433] The European Union, France[385] and New Zealand have proscribed Hezbollah's military wing, but do not list Hezbollah as a whole as a terrorist organization. PM Benjamin Netanyahu displays the location of a hidden Hezbollah depot (GPO. WebHezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday that the organization is ready to defend itself against any Israeli attack, Background: Nasrallah's comments Hezbollah armed strength - Wikipedia Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) are foreign organizations that are designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended. Turkish intelligence first attributed the Istanbul attack to the Kurdish resistance, but later concluded that Hezbollah, working on behalf of Iran, had organized it. [67][194][66] Israeli commander Gui Zur called Hezbollah "by far the greatest guerrilla group in the world". The reality is that Hezbollah is stronger than the state of Lebanon; taking advantage of the nations dysfunction, Hezbollah uses intimidation and violence to exert its power. Hezbollah [164] Unlike Amal, whose support is predominantly in the south of the country, Hezbollah maintains broad-based support in all three areas of Lebanon with a majority Shia Muslim population: in the south, in Beirut and its surrounding area, and in the northern Beqaa valley and Hirmil region. [190]:238, Successful Hezbollah counterintelligence operations include thwarting the CIA's attempted kidnapping of foreign operations chief Hassan Ezzeddine in 1994; the 1997 manipulation of a double agent that led to the Ansariya ambush; and the 2000 kidnapping of alleged Mossad agent Elhanan Tannenbaum. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens disillusioned by the economic slump called for the government, including Hezbollah, to cede power to a new, technocratic leadership. [428] The Netherlands regards Hezbollah as terrorist discussing it as such in official reports of their general intelligence and security service[429] and in official answers by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Unlike its uncompromising revolutionary stance in the 1980s, Hezbollah conveyed a lenient stance towards the Lebanese state. [205], As of 2017[update], the Israeli government believe Hezbollah had an arsenal of nearly 150,000 rockets stationed on its border with Lebanon. ", "Israel/Lebanon: Hezbollah Must End Attacks on Civilians. Even Hezbollahs threats of retaliation for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of the IRGCs elite Quds Force, have not materialized into reprisals. Nicholas Blanford discusses Hezbollahs evolution from an underground militia to a political powerhouse in this Wilson Center report. WebHezbollah is based in Lebanon and primarily operates in the Middle East, though it has conducted attacks elsewhere. The following year, Hezbollah attacked an Israeli army basethe first serious cross-border exchange in more than four years. Council on Foreign Relations World Policy", "Arab League brands Hezbollah 'terror' group", "Gulf Cooperation Council Labels Hezbollah a Terrorist Group", "Bahrain Terrorist List (individuals entities)", "Colombia and Honduras designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization", "Germany designates Hezbollah as terrorist group, conducts raids on suspects", "Hezbollah a recognized terrorist organization", "List of Individuals, Entities and Other Groups and Undertakings Declared by the Minister of Home Affairs as Specified Entity Under Section 66B(1)", "Paraguay adds Hamas, Hezbollah to terrorism list", "Slovenia declares all of Hezbollah a 'criminal and terrorist organization', "Guatemala designates Hezbollah as terrorist organization", Designation of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, ' Russia says Hezbollah, Hamas not terror groups,', "China's Ambassador in Lebanon: Hezbollah Arms a Trade Matter", "Blacklisting Hezbollah EU is Blacklisting Hezbollah", "Germany bans Lebanese militant group Hezbollah", "Hezbollah branded as terrorist organization in Argentina, assets frozen", "Argentina moves toward designating Hezbollah a terror group", "Australia to list Hezbollah as 'terrorist organization', "Australia lists neo-Nazi organisation The Base, Lebanese Shia party Hezbollah as terrorist organisations", "Australia lists neo-Nazi group The Base and Hezbollah as terrorist organisations", "Israel praises Czech Republic for designating Hezbollah a terrorist organization", "Bahrain's parliament declares Hezbollah a terrorist group", "Listed Terrorist Entities Currently Listed Entities", "EU places Hezbollah military wing on terror blacklist", "Jewish Leaders Applaud Hezbollah Terror Designation by France", "Germany classifies Hezbollah as terrorist organisation, conducts raids", "After U.S., Israeli pressure, Germany bans Hezbollah activity, raids mosques", "Honduras declares Hezbollah a terrorist organization", "Honduras becomes latest to officially declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization", "Lithuania recognizes Hezbollah as a terrorist organization", "Pressure Mounts for EU to Put Hezbollah on Terror List", "Prospects for Adding Hezbollah to the EU Terrorist List", "Paraguay labels Hezbollah a terror group, Brazil may follow", "Kosovo, Israel agree to normalize ties; Serbia to move embassy to Jerusalem", "Algeria's Hezbollah stance 'reflects view on resistance, not terrorism', "A Lebanese fragment: two days with Hizbollah", "Blood Money: Hezbollah's revenue stream flows through the Americas. [342], A July 2006 USA Today/Gallup poll found that 83% of the 1,005 Americans polled blamed Hezbollah, at least in part, for the 2006 Lebanon War, compared to 66% who blamed Israel to some degree. Iran and state-sponsored terrorism [169] Hezbollah-led opposition fighters seized control of several West Beirut neighborhoods from Future Movement militiamen loyal to the backed government, in street battles that left 11 dead and 30 wounded. [281] In response, the FSA allegedly attacked two Hezbollah positions on 21 February; one in Syria and one in Lebanon. Hezbollah emerged during Lebanons fifteen-year civil war, which broke out in 1975 when long-simmering discontent over the large, armed Palestinian presence in the country reached a boiling point. According to security officials, the man was planning attacks for Hezbollah in Cyprus and admitted this after questioning. In 2019, Hezbollah withdrew many of its fighters from Syria, attributing the decision to the Assad regimes military success. Hezbollah combat engineers have built defensive firing positions and well-hidden strongpoints throughout southern Lebanon since 2000. Hezbollahs support of Irans proxy networks. This includes the terror group Hezbollah, located in Lebanon, Hamas, located in Gaza, and pro-Iranian militias located in Iraq and Syria. The principal parties were Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the Israeli military. "[326], In August 2012, the United States State Department's counter-terrorism coordinator Daniel Benjamin warned that Hezbollah may attack Europe at any time without any warning. [60][61] In the 2018 Lebanese general election, Hezbollah held 12 seats and its alliance won the election by gaining 70 out of 128 seats in the Parliament of Lebanon. "[281] Walid Jumblatt, leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, also called on Hezbollah to end its involvement[283] and claimed that "Hezbollah is fighting inside Syria with orders from Iran. [11] The Battle of Bint Jbeil was one of the main battles of the 2006 Lebanon War. Has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Asia. Geographic coordinates. How Much Aid Has the U.S. WebDedicated in Memory of Mary Kalbach Horan. As stated, Hezbollah is still far from these numbers, but the horizon is clear: It is continuing to manufacture and smuggle them. Liwa Al-Ghaliboun [Victorious Brigade]. "[410], The United Kingdom was the first government to attempt to make a distinction between Hezbollah's political and military wings, declaring the latter a terrorist group in July 2008 after Hezbollah confirmed its association with Imad Mughniyeh. [177] In addition, Hezbollah has a weekly publication, Al Ahd, which was established in 1984. 13). "[289], Beginning in July 2014, Hezbollah sent an undisclosed number of technical advisers and intelligence analysts to Baghdad in support of the Iranian intervention in Iraq (2014present). by Lindsay Maizland U.S. policymakers see Hezbollah as a global terrorist threat. Hezbollah finds a loyal ally in Syria, whose army occupied most of Lebanon during Lebanons civil war. Factbox: What is Lebanon's Hezbollah . [51], In 2006, Michel Aoun and Hassan Nasrallah met in Mar Mikhayel Church, Chiyah, and signed a memorandum of understanding between Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah organizing their relation and discussing Hezbollah's disarmament with some conditions. [289] In the televised address, he said, "If Syria falls in the hands of America, Israel and the takfiris, the people of our region will go into a dark period. [174] Finally Hezbollah held 12 seats and its alliance won the election by gaining 70 out of 128 seats of Parliament of Lebanon. [143] During the late 1980s, when there was extreme inflation due to the collapse of the Lira, it was estimated that Hezbollah was receiving $35 million a month from Iran. Hezbollah publicly confirmed its involvement in the Syrian Civil War in 2013, joining Iran and Russia in supporting the Syrian government against largely Sunni rebel groups. A map detailing Hezbollah missile arsenal locations. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90) Hezbollah's increase in power Although it had some POLITICO He had been PM during 19921998 and 20002004. WebLocation. 36. The agreement also discussed the importance of having normal diplomatic relations with Syria and the request for information about the Lebanese political prisoners in Syria and the return of all political prisoners and diaspora in Israel. Hezbollah is on the fence, so we get ready for everything. another excuse to hold on to its arms. "[166] Hezbollah, along with the Amal Movement, represents most of Lebanese Shi'a. [210], Hezbollah has a military branch known as the Jihad Council,[43] one component of which is Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya ("The Islamic Resistance"), and is the possible sponsor of a number of lesser-known militant groups, some of which may be little more than fronts for Hezbollah itself, including the Organization of the Oppressed, the Revolutionary Justice Organization, the Organization of Right Against Wrong, and Followers of the Prophet Muhammad. [citation needed] Leaked cables from American diplomats suggest that the United States has been trying unsuccessfully to prevent Syria from "supplying arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon", and that Hezbollah has "amassed a huge stockpile (of arms) since its 2006 war with Israel"; the arms were described as "increasingly sophisticated. "[53], Gebran Tueni, a late conservative Orthodox Christian editor of an-Nahar, referred to Hezbollah as an "Iranian import" and said "they have nothing to do with Arab civilization." Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. Weekly. [191]:77374 The organization also includes a military security component, as well as an External Security Organization (al-Amn al-Khariji or Unit 910) that operates covertly outside Lebanon. What does Hezbollah mean? WebHezbollah is a political party made up of Shia Muslims and based in Lebanon. Not sure exactly what Hezbollah is? Here's exactly what you need [338] But United States intelligence officials speculate that there has been contact between Hezbollah and low-level al-Qaeda figures who fled Afghanistan for Lebanon. On Wednesday morning, Hezbollah-affiliated media published footage of Israeli forces operating in the northern part of Ghajar, calling the presence of Israeli forces a breach. Thisreen (Syrian newspaper) 21 June 1999, reprinted by MEMRI, Richard Augustus Norton Hizbollah. [302], Ali Kourani, the first Hezbollah operative to be convicted and sentenced in the United States, was under investigation since 2013 and worked to provide targeting and terrorist recruiting information to Hezbollah's Islamic Jihad Organization. Hezbollah has been one of the main parties of the March 8 Alliance since March 2005. [168], On 7 May 2008, Lebanon's 17-month-long political crisis spiraled out of control. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage identified Hezbollah as "the A team of terrorism," and warned "their time will come, there's no question about it." National Counterterrorism Center | Groups - DNI Robert Rabil. In the summit, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said that "Hezbollah enjoys wide representation and is an integral faction of the Lebanese community", while Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said PMF and Hezbollah "have preserved Arab dignity" and those who accuse them of being terrorists are terrorists themselves. [200] A small number of Saeghe-2s (Iranian-made version of M47 Dragon) were also used in the war. Hezbollah (/hzbl/;[39] Arabic: , romanized:izbu 'llh, lit. Lebanon According to U.S. government assessments, In Brief They include the Iranian-made Fajr-3 and Fajr-5, the latter with a range of 75km (47mi), enabling it to strike the Israeli port of Haifa, and the Zelzal-1, with an estimated 150km (93mi) range, which can reach Tel Aviv. PLO "[138] Nowadays, as Hezbollah scholar Magnus Ranstorp reports, Hezbollah does indeed have a formal governing structure, and in keeping with the principle of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (velayat-e faqih), it "concentrate[s] all authority and powers" in its religious leaders, whose decisions then "flow from the ulama down the entire community.
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