Abstract
The Hizballah organization was formed in 1982 in reaction to the apparent disenfranchisement of the Shiite Community in Lebanon. It has since grown into a national political organization with an international following. In addition, the organization has plummeted and extended into activities outside its initial intentions. These include terrorist activities which target United States of America, Israel and their allies. Interestingly, no consensus exists at the international level on how to treat Hizballah. While United States of America has since declared the organization a foreign terrorist organization in consonance with their laws, Europe Union omitted Hizballah from its list of terrorism organizations. In addition, the fact that Hizballah seeks to liberate the disenfranchised Lebanese gives the organization support in its home country. The organization is even represented in the Lebanese political systems. In the long run, there will be a need to distinguish between the terrorist unit of Hizballah and its` political unit.
Introduction
Hizballah was established in 1982 in Southern Lebanon and in some parts of Beirut. The group formed as a small cohesive function composed of predominantly young and committed Shiite Lebanese. Moreover, most of the people who formed it were disillusioned by the oppression the Shiite community faced in Lebanon then. Since then, the group has grown into becoming a terrorist group with well-designed structures and links. This includes the political and structural leadership in the Republic of Iran. The original formation and consociation of Hizballah was premised on the need to mitigate the economic disenfranchisement and political and elitist isolation suffered by the minority Shiite community against the dominating Maronite and Sunni Lebanese. In addition, the Hizballah organization was also formed for the liberation of the Lebanese people who had suffered displacement by the Israelis who had taken possession and occupation of Southern Lebanon area. Their political sentiment has been heavily designed against the Israelites and their attendant occupation of Southern Lebanon. In fact, the organization succeeded in sending out the Israelis who occupied Lebanon in addition to effectively fighting the Southern Army of Lebanon. Additionally, it has extended its hatred to the United States of America which is considered the leading Satan. The organization was declared by George Bush as a foreign terrorist organization whose existence threatens the interests of the United States of America in 2002. Hizballah is not only political, but also religious. It has equally engaged in a religious war believing that it is charged with spearheading the war on behalf of Muslims in defense of Islam. In that strain, the organization has identified the United States of America has the largest threat to the establishment of Islam and extended the same to the Israelites as the representation of the American hatred in the Middle East. The organization draws its membership all over the world having an established network coverage that spans the entire world. It draws its inspiration from its religious mentor, Shaykh Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah. The original leadership was led by Shaykh Hassan Nasrallah who had departed from the Annal organization that was leading in the liberation for Lebanon. Some of the military leaders for the network of Hizballah include Mahmud Natur and Faisal Abu Sharkh. The organization applies violent methods of attack on its enemies including suicide bombings, car bombings physical attacks and kidnappings, arsons and assassinations, among other forms of violent attacks.
Methods of research
For purposes of this research, this paper relies on secondary sources including journal articles and publications accessible on the internet for research. Nonetheless, this paper appreciates the fact that the best form of sources would have been primary evidence. However, the stakes are high and the international nature of the organization buoyed by the fact that it is illegal and immoral to the ordinary society makes access to primary sources on the same difficult if not impossible. However, the sources relied on are authoritative being peer reviewed journal and academic publications.
Origin and history
Hizballah was established in the 1982 shortly after the national elections in Lebanon that had effectively isolated the Shiites. The formation of the party was political with the spirit being the political pursuit of rights for the disenfranchised Shiites. In addition, the party was determined to fight for the land rights of the Shiites who had suffered the occupation of their land by the Israelites who at that time occupied South Lebanon. However, in addition to these political dimensions, Hizballah got access and connection to the Iranian organizations and together undertook to pursue an anti-West agenda that was given a religious agenda. In that connection, the organization originally assumed active service in defense of Islam and undertook to fight the United States of America and their Middle East allies Israel. In 1983, the organization gained recognition after they claimed responsibility for the truck bombing of marine barracks in Lebanon killing 241 marines. Interestingly, Hizballah has overtime desisted from assuming direct responsibility for the atrocities they commit to human kind. Instead, it has preferred to use front organizations to lay claim for the terrorism related activities. Some of the organizations that have assumed responsibility for the atrocities on its behalf include Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad Organization, Revolution Justice Organization, and the Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, the Mujahideen (Holy Warriors) for Freedom, the Cells of the Armed Struggle, the Ansar All and the Partisans of God. The organization has technically engaged a number of covert and overt activities in their efforts against their enemies. In fact, another method of violence and attacks adopted by the organization is the use of ally. Through this, easily accessible countries friendly to the United States of America become targets of this terrorist organization.
Rules, Beliefs and Actions
The organization is based on a political and religious ideology that has overtime determined the extent of their involvement in the political activities within and without. Hizballah believes it exists for purposes of the defense of the Shiites and the Islam ideology. In that vein, the organization has been involved in a number of activities since 1982 to date. These activities resonate around the defense of the territory of Lebanon and the larger interests of the Islam communities. Interestingly, the organization has at times failed to secure the support of strategic Islam countries for its actions in the world. For instance, in the 2006 war against Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Emirates and Lebanon failed to back the efforts of the organization. However, the organization persisted in their actions and even declined to enter the arms surrender program. This was based on the argument that in the absence of elaborate measures and capacities by Lebanon, it stood to defend Lebanon from Israel in the event of war. In 2008, the party similarly participated in the conflict assuming a hardline stand that demanded for the total liberation of Lebanon against the Western domination. Politically, therefore, Hizballah has proved to be a defender of the rights of the people of Lebanon. In addition, it has come out fighting for the observation of the rights of Muslims against relative domination and subjugation by the West. Hizballah has been particularly concerned with the freeing of the Lebanese land from occupation by Israelites, a fete they achieved after a military struggle.
The organization equally believes in the Islam religion and subscribes to the concept of the Jihad. It believes the war it engages on is holy and sanctioned by Allah. In that context, the organization demands absolute respect and assistance from citizens believing that the war is against the enemies of the Islam religion. In fact, the organization’s religious mentor justified suicide bombings asserting that the volunteers died advancing the war for the religion and would consequently be blessed.
Military capacities and activities
The organization has an efficient network that effectively trains and equips its soldiers. The justification for military engagement has includes the desire to secure their territory against the Israelite invasion and the need to defend Islam generally. In addition, it has been proven that the organization received military assistance from Iran, Syria and other Islam nations supportive of terrorist activities. The military organization was able to face and drive out the Israelites occupancy of Southern Lebanon. It is not yet known how the funding of the organization works and their source of military equipment other than the fact that Iran and Syria supported them. In addition, the organization has adherents and sympathizers all over the world including Lebanon, Germany, the United Kingdom and surprisingly the United States of America.
The nature of military activities has been veiled and in some cases by proxy. From the previous occurrences, one gets the impression that Hizballah has been determined to fight their enemies in any overt and covert manner possible. The initial attacks started with the attack of the United States marine barracks in 1982 killing 242 marines. In 1992, a proxy group, the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack of the Israel Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This was to be followed with car bombings in 1994 of an Argentine Jewish Community in Buenos Aires. The group’s direct engagements can be seen in their conflict with Israel in Lebanon in 2006 and their unrelenting support for Israel’s enemies Palestine. The group has not left anything to chance. It has often taken every opportunity to express their anti-sentiment against the United States of America and Israel. In addition, there has been an attempt to establish links between the group and Al-Qaeda in relation to the 11th September attacks in the United States of America.
Terrorist polices and attacks on United States of America
The organization’s terrorist target over time has remained any friendly places that would possibly have Americans, Israelis or their allies. The organization continues to apply all possible methods to get at their enemies. Some of the popular methods employed include the use of kidnaps, suicide bombings, and detonation of buildings, among others. For the United States of America, the group has at three different times attacked and killed American nationals. It started with the first attack in Lebanon at the United States of American barracks in which 241 marine soldiers were killed in 1983. In the same 1983, the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon was attacked with the building being detonated killing a total of 63 people of which 17 were American nationals. The third attack was at the Khober Towers in Saudi Arabia that was opposite to a building that was playing host to American soldiers. In total, 19 American Airmen were killed in the attacks. The attack was supposedly a precursor to what was to come had Saudi Arabia not relented to the demands to have the American Airmen in Saudi lifted out. All in all, the organization has entertained both overt and covert methods in attacking the United States of America. As mentioned before, links have been drawn between the organization and Al-Qaeda in relation to the September 2001 attacks.
Controversy
Numerous debates both within Lebanon and at the international level continue concerning the existence and operations of Hizballah. The general consensus is that Hizballah is a legal organization that is not necessarily only terrorist-related. The need to examine the culmination and the eventual functions of the organization has not evaded the minds of stakeholders in the entire world. Interestingly, while the United States of America considers Hizballah a terrorist organization, the European Union considers Hizballah a political organization that is determined to liberate Lebanon. There has been the debate that Hizballah needs to concentrate on its political and social activities aimed at liberating the disenfranchised Lebanese and shed away its terrorist elements including its connection with Iran and some known terrorist organizations. In addition, some scholars have gone to the extreme and supported the functions of Hizballah. Such scholars have taken issue with the approach taken by America in their interaction with Hizballah. To them, they believe America should allow a chance for dialogue and listen to the plight of the Hizballah which to some extent are legitimate and justified. In that context, the continuous attacks on Hizballah which has targeted its leadership with the intention of the crippling the organization has been criticized and opposed by a number of functions. However, it needs to be noted that the American government has pursued a cautious approach that seeks to distinguish between terrorist organizations and Islam.
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