What exactly is Hezbollah?

Question

I keep hearing and seeing things about it.

Answer 1

Hizballah / Hizballah
Party of God
Islamic Jihad
Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine
Organization of the Oppressed on Earth
Revolutionary Justice Organization

Hizbollah is an Islamic movement founded after the Israeli military seizure of Lebanon in 1982, which resulted in the formation of Islamic resistance units committed to the liberation of the occupied territories and the ejection of Israeli forces. Hizbollah was established in 1982 during the Lebanon War when a group of Lebanese Shi'ite Muslims declared themselves to be the "Party of God" (Hizb Allah). Upon the realization that the IDF was entrenching itself in south Lebanon, and influenced and assisted by the recently stationed 1,500 Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon, Hizballah cells began developing with the immediate desire to resist the Israeli invasion. Hizbollah began establishing its base in Lebanon in 1982 and has expanded and strengthened ever since, primarily due to its wave of suicide bombings and foreign support by Iran and Syria.

Description

Radical Shia group formed in Lebanon; dedicated to creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon and removal of all non-Islamic influences from area. Strongly anti-Western and anti-Israeli. Closely allied with, and often directed by Iran, but may have conducted operations that were not approved by Tehran. A very important factor that developed Hezbollah was the establishment of the Islamic Revolution in Iran that was led by the Imam Khomeini. This revolution consolidated new concepts in the field of Islamic thought mainly the concept of Willayat Al-Faqih. The revolution also generalized Islamic expressions against the west such as arrogance, the great Satan, hypocrites and the oppressed. Due to that it was only normal for the ideological doctrine in Iran to take root in Lebanon. This tie was very quickly translated on the ground by direct support from the Islamic Republic of Iran through its revolutionary guards and then to Hezbollah that was resisting the Israeli occupation. This religious and ideological tie between Hezbollah and Iran following the revolution with its stance towards the Zionist entity had a great effect on releasing vital material and moral support to Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s ideological ideals sees no legitimacy for the existence of Israel, a matter that elevates the contradictions to the level of existence. And the conflict becomes one of legitimacy that is based on religious ideals. The seed of resistance is also deep in the ideological beliefs of Hezbollah, a belief that found its way for expression against the occupation of Lebanon.

Activities

Once established as a militia, Hizbollah received acclaim and legitimacy in Lebanon and throughout the Muslim world by fighting against IDF and SLA troops. In fact, since 1988 Hizbollah replaced Amal (the other prominent Shi'ite organization in Lebanon) as the predominant force due to its activity against Israel. Over the years Hizbollah military operations have grown to include attacking IDF and SLA outposts, ambushing convoys, laying explosive devices booby-trapping cars, and launching long range mortar shells and Katyusha rockets at IDF outposts and into Israel proper. Between the spring of 1983 to the summer of 1985 the Hizballah launched an unprecedented wave of suicide bombings which included an attack on the US embassy and at a US Marine base in Beirut. Known or suspected to have been involved in numerous anti-US terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck bombing of the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983 and the US Embassy Annex in Beirut in September 1984. Elements of the group were responsible for the kidnapping and detention of US and other Western hostages in Lebanon. The group also attacked the Israeli Embassy in Argentina in 1992.

The organization was very active against Israel during its stay in Lebanese territory, and since the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000 it began focusing on increasing and expanding its activities within Israel with the aim of carrying out" quality" attacks in Israeli territory, thus disrupting any attempt at dialogue and any opportunity to return to the peace process. This became evident during earlier attempts to hold negotiations with regard to a 'hudna' (ceasefire), when Hezbollah operators encouraged attacks aimed at causing these contacts to fail.

The organization operates against Israel in four main ways:

Bringing terrorists and collaborators through the border crossings using foreign documents
Setting up a terrorist organization inside Israel and in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip
Cross-border operations - smuggling weapons and terrorists
Financial support for Palestinian organizations and groups.
Since 2003 it has been possible to see a trend of increasing cooperation between Hezbollah in Lebanon and operational entities among the other Palestinian terrorist organizations, with the accent on Tanzim, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the Popular Front. This cooperation is particularly evident between Hezbollah and the Tanzim and in practice, in recent months Hezbollah has served as a kind of "external command" for most of the Tanzim organizations in the territories.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, admitted for the first time in public the existence of a Hezbollah unit responsible for activities with the Palestinians. He said this on Almanar television on July 19, 2004, after the death of Ghaleb Awaleh, a senior Hezbollah terrorist: "… the fallen Ghaleb Awaleh is like the fallen Ali Salah, from the group which dedicated its life in recent years to helping our brothers in conquered Palestine. We do not wish to conceal the truth. We declare it and glory in it. Ghaleb Awaleh today has fallen on the Palestine road. He is a Jerusalem martyr. He is an Al Aksa Mosque martyr. He is a martyr in the fight against the Zionist enterprise… and we will not to abandon this fight and have never abandoned it. We are in a position where we will fight openly and we will fight clandestinely."

Hezbollah's methods of controlling terrorist organizations in the territories are similar to those characteristic of the involvement of the command centers of Palestinian terrorist organizations abroad (Hamas and Islamic Jihad) in the actions of their organizations inside the country. Striking in this framework are the instructions to carry out mass murder attacks within Israeli territory, mediation between terrorists at the different centers of action, the large-scale transfer of money, and finally, coordination of the effort to upgrade the terrorist capabilities of the organizations.

On July 12, 2006 members of Hezbollah infiltrated the Lebanese-Israeli border near Shtula, an Israeli farming village, and claimed responsibility for an ambush conducted on two Israeli Army Hummvees. The attack resulted in the capture of two Israeli soldiers and the deaths of three others. Five more Israeli soldiers were killed in the ensuing pursuit of Hezbollah members into Lebanese territory. The combined capture of two soldiers and the deaths of 8 others; was considered the worst loss for Israeli military forces in more than four years. Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for two separate Katyusha rocket attacks on Israeli towns resulting in the death of 1 civilian and the injury of 25 others.

The kidnapping of Israeli troops by Hezbollah came in the wake of a similar incident less than a month before, on June 25th, 2006, when Palestinian militants forcibly captured an Israeli soldier to use as leverage for bargaining with the Israeli government. The last time Hezbollah carried out a similar operation against Israel was in October of 2000, when 3 Israeli soldiers were abducted by the Lebanese militants. All three victims died either by execution or wounds sustained during their capture. Their bodies were returned to Israel in exchange for the release of several Arab prisoners.

The July 12th attack resulted in immediate retaliation by the Israeli military who responded to the hostilities against their troops and citizens by bombing roads, bridges, and power plants inside Lebanon. The specific targeting of al-Manar, the Hezbollah controlled television station, and the Lebanese international airport as well as the blockading of Lebanon’s sea ports was an attempt to force the return of the captured Israeli troops and place greater pressure on Hezbollah. These retaliatory actions by Israel resulted in the deaths of dozens of Lebanese civilians and threats of further rocket attacks by Hezbollah.

Strength

Today the number of members involved in combat activity in southern Lebanon is under 1,000. But it has many activists and moral supporters.

Location/Area of Operation

Operates in the Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley), the southern suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon. Has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and elsewhere. Its training bases are mostly in the Syrian-controlled Biqa Valley, and its headquarters and offices are in southern Beirut and in Ba'albek.

External Aid

Hezbollah was established by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards who came to Lebanon during the 1982 "Peace for Galilee" war, as part of the policy of exporting the Islamic revolution. It receives substantial amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran and Syria.

In Israel's view, Hezbollah's activities are part of Iran's overall policy with regard to Israel, which is to fan the flames of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and initiate terrorist activities against Israel, despite the fact that Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization consisting entirely of terrorists from Lebanon, with no national connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In view of Iran's interest in smudging its fingerprints with regard to direct control over internal terrorist activities, Hezbollah's status is significant as Iran's front-line operative arm against Israel.

Answer 2

They are a pro-Palestinian terrorist group that hangs out in southern Lebanon. Even the democratic Lebanese government doesn't want them there, but will not push the issue as it will result in confrontation. I believe the Jews are going to take care of them to a great extent - at least theiri infrastructure and training camps. Lebanon, if you didn't know, is on the northern border of Israel. Recently Hezbollah raided into norther Israel and killed some Israeli troops and kidnapped a couple more. And thus the chaos that is going on today.

Answer 3

Hezbollah or Hizbullah, meaning Party of God, is a Lebanese Islamist group, with a military arm and a civilian arm, founded in 1982 to fight the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.
Along with the Amal movement, Hezbollah is the main political party representing the Shia community, Lebanon's largest religious bloc.
The civilian wing of Hezbollah runs hospitals, news services, and educational facilities and participates in the Lebanese Parliament. Its Reconstruction Campaign (Jihad al-Bina) is responsible for numerous economic and infrastructural development projects in Shia-populated areas of Lebanon.

Hezbollah is regarded by some in the Arab and Muslim worlds as a legitimate resistance movement and is a recognized political party in Lebanon, where it has participated in government.

However, as it initiates attacks against civilians in Israel and also ideologically supports such attacks by other organizations, such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas, several international organizations, including the EU, and many governments, including the United States, have designated it a terrorist organization

for further information go to :
http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/

and to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hizbullah

Answer 4

Hezbollah (meaning Party of God) is a Lebanese Islamist group, with a military arm and a civilian arm, founded to fight the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. It is like the Lebanese equivalent of Ireland's I.R.A. and Sinn Féin wrapped into one.

One person's "terrorist group" is another person's "freedom fighters". It all depends at how you see things. Sure- they engage in violent\military action, but they were also involved in political advancement of their goals and elected into offices.

Answer 5

The US and Israeli's believe it is an islamic, Shia terrorist organization.

Palestinians, Syrians, and Lebanese feel they are freedom fighters resisting Israeli occupation.

They operate in Southern Lebanon but are not under the control of the Lebanese government. They are given money, and arms by Syria and Iran.

I think they are terrorists and should all be killed.

Answer 6

I dont know what Hezbollah is, but Hezbollah considers Israel terrorist organization.

Answer 7

From Webster

a Shiite terrorist organization with strong ties to Iran; seeks to create an Iranian fundamentalist Islamic state in Lebanon; car bombs are the signature weapon [syn:

Answer 8

hezbollah is a shiite organization. they are not terrorists because they target occupiers. if they kill the wrong ones they call it collateral damage, just like the israelis do.

Answer 9

A Shiite militant group

Answer 10

A terrorist group that I hope, now that they declared "OPEN WAR", that this means they will actually come out of hiding in homes with women and children and fight standing up like men.

Answer 11

A terrorist organization based in Syria and Lebanon.