Hezbollah

Guide Note

Hezbollah is a Lebanese political organization which has been classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, the Philippines, and Australia.

Hezbollah formed in the early 1980s in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon during the 1982 Lebanon War.

Initially, they were a militia group funded by the Ayatollah Khomeini and trained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards with the primary goals of combating colonialism, punishing those responsible for committing war crimes, and establishing an independent Islamic government in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has defined Israel as an "unlawful entity" and the group's leaders have repeatedly called for its destruction. Since 1992 the Hezbollah has been lead by Hassan Nasrallah.

Fast Facts

  1. Officially formed: 1985
  2. Religion: Shia Islam
  3. Secretary General: Hassan Nasrallah
  4. Hezbollah translates to "party of God"

2008 Unrest

On May 7, 2008, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement fought against members of the Sunni Future Movement, which is part of the majority March 14 alliance in government. Hezbollah fighters took over large sections of the capital, Beirut. Commentators called it the worst sectarian violence in since the civil war ended in 1990.

Two things triggered the violence. First was the Lebanese government's decision to outlaw Hezbollah's private telecommunications network. Second was the dismissal of the security head at Beirut airport, Brigadier Wafiq Shuqair, who is said to be too close to Hezbollah. Hezbollah had managed to fit their own video surveillance cameras at the airport. Wafiq Shuqair was reinstated on May 10, pending an investigation.

The Mahalo Top 7

  1. Canada.com: Hezbollah starts withdrawing gunmen from Beirut (May 10, 2008)
  2. Guardian Unlimited: Hizbullah agrees to pull its gunmen off Beirut streets (May 10, 2008)
  3. Wikipedia: Hezbollah
  4. Council on Foreign Relations: Hezbollah
  5. BBC News: Who are Hezbollah? (2002)
  6. GlobalSecurity.org: Hizballah (Party of God)
  7. YouTube: Nasrallah addresses Lebanon - 08 May 08 (Time: 27:41)


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