Hezbollah (Lebanon)

The flag of Hezbullah that depicts a stylized representation of the Arabic words حزب الله (ḥizbu-llāh, meaning "Party of God") in Kufic script.

Hezbollah (Arabic: حِزْبُ الله) or the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon is a Shia Islamic political and military organization that was founded in Lebanon in 1982. Its primary objective was to resist the occupation of the Zionist regime.

Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah currently serves as the secretary general of Hezbollah. Prior to his leadership, Subhi al-Tufayli and Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi held the position. Throughout its existence, Hezbollah has been involved in multiple military conflicts with Israel, with the most notable being the 33-day war in 2006.

This war was initiated by Israel with the aim of disarming Hezbollah and rescuing two Israeli military personnel captured during a Hezbollah operation known as "al-Wa'd al-Sadiq" (the True Promise). Hezbollah has also actively engaged in combat against the terrorist group ISIS in defense of the Syrian government. In addition to its military activities, Hezbollah is involved in various cultural, social, and political endeavors. The Al-Manar TV Network serves as a media outlet affiliated with Hezbollah.

History and Grounds of Formation

Hezbollah was established in 1982 in response to the occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. Initially operating covertly, Hezbollah worked to regain control of the occupied regions. It was on February 16, 1985, following Israel's withdrawal from Sidon, that Hezbollah publicly declared its ideology and strategy of resisting the Israeli occupation.

As per a commander from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in response to the Israeli attack on Lebanon in 1982, a contingent of IRGC commanders was deployed to Lebanon. Their mission was to train Lebanese forces in resistance tactics against the Zionist regime. In addition to military training, their efforts aimed to foster unity among various groups affiliated with Iran, ultimately leading to the formation of Hezbollah. According to Na'im Qassem, the deputy secretary general of Hezbollah, these groups arrived in Lebanon under the directive of Imam Khomeini to provide military training. Prior to this, the Amal Movement, Islamic Dawa Party, the Assembly of the Scholars in Beqaa, and Islamic Committees had already agreed to establish a unified party to counter the Israeli occupation, and their proposal received confirmation from Imam Khomeini.

Leadership

Subhi al-Tufayli was the first elected Secretary General of Hezbollah, assuming the position on November 5, 1989. Prior to his election, Hezbollah operated with a leadership council for a period of seven years. The founding members of Hezbollah included Sayyid Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, Subhi al-Tufayli, Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, Naim Qassem, Hossein Korani, Hussein Khalil, Mohammad Raad, Muhammad Fneish, Mohammad Yazbek, and Ibrahim Amin. However, in May 1991, disagreements and criticisms directed towards Subhi al-Tufayli led to his removal from the position of Secretary General. Sayyid Abbas Musawi was subsequently elected as the new Secretary General of Hezbollah. On February 16, 1992, Musawi was assassinated and martyred by Israel. Following his assassination, the Hezbollah council elected Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah as the new Secretary General.

Prominent Figures

Here are some of the prominent figures of Hezbollah.

Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah

Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah

Main article: Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah

Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah (born in 1960) is the third Secretary General of Hezbollah in Lebanon. He served as the executive manager of Hezbollah for a while and was among its founding members. Nasrallah assumed the position of Secretary General in 1992 and has held it since then. Under his leadership, Hezbollah successfully compelled Israel to withdraw from parts of the occupied territories in southern Lebanon in 2000 and liberated Lebanese prisoners.

Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi

Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi

Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi was a founding member of Hezbollah and served as its second Secretary General. He assumed the position in 1989 when Subhi al-Tufayli was removed from leadership. Prior to his role in Hezbollah, he had actively fought against the Zionist regime of Israel alongside Palestinian forces. His tenure as Secretary General lasted less than nine months. On February 16, 1992, his car was targeted in a terrorist attack carried out by Israeli helicopters. As a result of this attack, Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi, along with his wife and child, were martyred.

Subhi al-Tufayli

Shaykh Subhi al-Tufayli (b. 1948) served as the inaugural secretary general of Hezbollah in Lebanon from 1989 to 1991. In 1998, he founded the Revolt of the Hungry (Thawrat al-Jiya'). This movement witnessed his supporters engaging in attacks on several governmental centers, leading to conflicts and loss of lives. In the present day, Shaykh Subhi al-Tufayli has become critical of certain positions and practices adopted by both Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Imad Mughniyeh

Imad Mughniyeh

Imad Mughniyeh, also known as al-Hajj Radwan, was a prominent commander of Hezbollah. He held the responsibility of commanding the guard that protected high-ranking Hezbollah officials and was also in charge of overseeing special operations conducted by the organization. Notably, he played a key role in planning and leading the al-Wa'd al-Sadiq (True Promise) operation, and served as a field commander for Hezbollah during the 33-day war against Israel. Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated by Israel in Damascus on February 12, 2008.

Fighting the Zionist Regime

In 1985, Hezbollah made a public and official declaration of its ideology and strategy, which centered around fight against Israel. During its early years, the organization primarily engaged in martyrdom operations targeting Israeli forces. However, as time passed, Hezbollah's strategy evolved. In response to the assassination of their Secretary General at the time, Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi, Hezbollah forces retaliated by launching Katyusha missiles towards Zionist settlements in northern Palestine.

Here are some of the major events that took place between Hezbollah and Israel.

The True Promise Operation

In 2006, a war broke out between Hezbollah and Israel, which became known as the July War or the 33-day war. Despite its agreement with Hezbollah, Israel failed to release its three prisoners as promised. As a result, in July 2006, Hezbollah conducted the al-Wa'd al-Sadiq (True Promise) operation and captured two Israeli military members. In an attempt to secure the release of its prisoners and disarm Hezbollah, Israel launched an attack on Lebanon, triggering a full-scale war between the two parties. The conflict lasted for 33 days. On the morning of the 34th day, August 14, 2006, a ceasefire was implemented in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

January 1993 Conflict

On July 25, 1993, Israel launched an attack on Lebanon with the objective of disarming Hezbollah and creating divisions between Hezbollah and the Lebanese population. The aim was to exert pressure on the Lebanese government in order to suppress Hezbollah's resistance activities. However, this attack elicited a response from Hezbollah. On July 31, 1993, Israel and Hezbollah reached an agreement known as the July Memorandum of Understanding. According to this agreement, Hezbollah committed to refraining from launching Katyusha missiles towards the occupied territories of Palestine. In return, Israel agreed to cease its aggressive actions.

April 1996 Conflicts

Hezbollah forces on April 16, 1996

On April 11, 1996, Israel initiated a military operation called the Grapes of Wrath, targeting Lebanon. This operation was marked by several significant incidents, including the four murders in Sohmor on the second day, an attack on the Mansouri ambulance on the third day, and the attacks in Nabatiyeh and Qana. on the seventh day. These attacks resulted in the loss of 25 lives, including 14 members of Hezbollah. The Grapes of Wrath operation lasted for 16 days. However, eventually, both parties reached an agreement known as the April Agreement. Under the April Agreement, Israel committed to refraining from targeting civilians and agreed to exclusively engage resistance forces in its military operations.

Operation Ansariya

Hezbollah carried out Operation Ansariya on September 5, 1992, in response to an Israeli marine commando aggression in Lebanese territory. During the operation, 17 Israeli commandos were killed or injured by Hezbollah forces.

Liberation of Resistance Prisoners

After the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, some Hezbollah members, including Mustafa Dirani and Abdel Karim Obeid, remained imprisoned in Israel. In an effort to secure their release, Hezbollah conducted an operation in the Chebaa farms region of southern Lebanon. On October 7, 2000, they captured three Israeli soldiers and also arrested an Israeli colonel in Beirut. Consequently, a prisoner exchange took place between Israel and Hezbollah. As part of the exchange, Israel released several Lebanese prisoners, along with 400 Palestinian prisoners, and returned the bodies of 59 martyrs. In addition, Israel provided information on the identities of 24 missing individuals and handed over a map indicating the location of landmines along the Lebanese borders. The exchange operation was carried out on January 29-30, 2004.

Furthermore, in 2008, following the conclusion of the 33-day war, Hezbollah engaged in negotiations with Israel, facilitated by German intermediaries, to address the issue of remaining Lebanese prisoners. Through these negotiations, Hezbollah successfully secured the release of the remaining Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. In addition, Hezbollah also obtained the bodies of its martyred resistance fighters who had lost their lives during the 33-day war. Furthermore, as part of the agreement, the bodies of other Lebanese and Palestinian martyrs were returned, including Dalal Maghrabi and the 12 members of her group.

Hezbollah's Military Intervention in Syria in Combating ISIS

Hezbollah collaborated with the Syrian government in its efforts to combat the terrorist group ISIS. Following the outbreak of unrest in Syria, Hezbollah actively engaged in fighting alongside the Syrian army against the Takfiri (excommunicationist) ISIS militants. One significant achievement for Hezbollah in Syria was its liberation of al-Qusayr.

Hezbollah Patrol in Syria

Hezbollah first supported the Syrian government politically and then launched a military intervention in Syria in late 2011 alongside Syrian troops and loyalist militias. The decision to intervene directly on the ground was proof of the new strategic relationship between the two actors. Hezbollah was a major foreign actor, helping the Assad government alongside the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia. Hezbollah supported Damascus militarily, technically, and logistically against different Syrian armed opposition groups. Hezbollah combatants in Syria were estimated at between 7,000 and 9,000, including elite troops, experts and reservists. Hezbollah has also opened training camps near the city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, near the Syrian border, in order to train the youth of various religious communities.

Initially, there was relatively little confrontation between Hezbollah and the ISIS militants. Hezbollah tended to operate mainly in western Syria, while ISIS resided in the more lightly populated east. This all changed when ISIS took the war to Hezbollah on November 12, 2014, by deploying a pair of suicide bombers against the Burj al-Barajneh district of southern Beirut, a mixed but largely Shia neighborhood where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The attack killed and wounded scores of civilians. Eager to punish Hezbollah for its Syrian intervention, ISIS promised "the Party of Satan" much more of the same.

Hezbollah's war aimed against Sunni extremists was both declared; protecting Shia shrines in Syria, and undeclared, the latter including keeping supply lines from Iran open, preserving the Syrian government, and keeping Sunni extremists (al-Nusra Front) from entering Lebanon. Sayed Hasan Nasrallah claims Zionists and Sunni extremists have the same goal of "destroying our peoples and our societies". As a political party with a strong social welfare arm, Hezbollah's leaders have deftly created a political alliance with Maronite Christian factions, secular Druze, and even Shia of the Amal Movement. Lebanese sources indicate that Hezbollah began recruiting Christians, Druze, and Sunnis for the fight against ISIS in late 2014. According to Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah: "This danger does not recognize Shiites, Sunnis, Muslims, Christians or Druze or Yazidis or Arabs or Kurds". The reluctance of ISIS to strike Israel only reinforces Hezbollah's belief that there is cooperation between Israel and the Sunni extremists.

Finally, Hezbollah and Syrian government forces succeeded in driving rebel forces from their last positions in the Qalamun region alongside the border with Lebanon after nearly two years of fighting. ISIS and al-Nusra fighters had used the region for attacks within Lebanon. Since then, Hezbollah has intensified its war against ISIS and Assad's other enemies in coordination with Russian airstrikes.

Political Activities

In 1992, Hezbollah made its debut in Lebanese elections and secured twelve parliamentary seats. Four years later in 1996, Hezbollah gained ten seats in the Lebanese parliament. In the subsequent elections of 2000, Hezbollah maintained its momentum and secured twelve out of 128 seats. in the general elections of 2005, Hezbollah gained fourteen seats nationwide and formed an alliance with the Amal movement, securing all 23 seats in Southern Lebanon. Hezbollah appointed Muhammad Fneish as the Water and Energy Minister within the cabinet.

After 2005, Hezbollah became one of the March 8 groups. That year marked significant changes in Lebanon's political landscape following the assassination of Hariri. The March 8 group emerged from a gathering of Hezbollah in Beirut, as it faced opposition regarding its disarming, support of Syria, and resistance against Israel. The March-8 group was an alliance consisting of Hezbollah, Amal Movement, and the Free Patriotic (Christian) Party. Later, other movements joined the alliance, including the Islamic Group of Lebanon, Islamic Unification Movement (Sunni Muslims), and the Democratic Party (Druze). Simultaneously, another alliance called the March 14 group was formed with the support of the US, France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The March 14 group aimed to secure the Syrian exit from Lebanon and disarm the resistance movement. Its main advocates included the Future Movement (Sunni Muslims), al-Kataeb Party, and Lebanese Forces (Christian), as well as the Progressive Socialist Party of Lebanon (Druze).

Social Activities

Hezbollah is primarily focused on resistance against Israeli aggressions and occupations. However, it also engages in various social and public service activities, which include:

• Establishing an institution dedicated to construction efforts aimed at rebuilding the ruins caused by Israeli aggressions and natural disasters.
• Undertaking agricultural projects.
• Establishing an Islamic healthcare group along with several healthcare centers and hospitals to provide medical services.
• Providing educational services to students.
• Establishing a martyr foundation that offers support and services to the families of martyrs.
• Creating a committee for Islamic charity to assist impoverished individuals and communities.
• Providing access to drinking water for the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Media

The logo of Al-Manar Television Network affiliated with Hezbollah in Lebanon

• Al-Manar Television Network: established in 1991.
• Al-Nour Radio (http://www.alnour.com.lb), established in 1988.
• Al-Ahd Weekly (http://www.alahednews.com.lb)
• Qawem Website (http://qawem.org)
• South Lebanon Website (http://www.southlebanon.org)
• Media Relations of Hezbollah Website (http://www.mediarelations-lb.org)

Additionally, Hezbollah has transformed one of its headquarters located in Mleeta into a museum.

Opponents and Proponents

The primary supporters of Hezbollah include Iran, Syria, and Iraq. Additionally, Russia recognizes Hezbollah as a legitimate political and social organization. On the other hand, the United States of America, the Arab League, and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf have designated Hezbollah, or certain factions within it, as a terrorist group. Those who argue against this designation point to Hezbollah's resistance against Israeli occupation and threats, as well as the perceived military shortcomings of the Lebanese army against Israel. They believe that Hezbollah should be considered part of the Lebanese military forces and, therefore, justified in possessing weapons.

Bibliography

Several books have been written about Hezbollah. A case in point is the book Hezbollah al-manhaj al-tajriba al-mustaqbal Lebanon wa muqawamatuh fi l-wajiha by Naim Qassem (Hezbollah, the method, the experience, the future of Lebanon and its resistance at the forefront), a leader of Lebanese Hezbollah. This book provides an account of the history, objectives, and activities of Hezbollah.