LEBANON
Lebanon's security environment continued to improve in 1996 as the country worked to rebuild its infrastructure and institutions. However, parts of southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, and portions of Beirut's southern suburbs-including areas surrounding Lebanon's main airport-remain effectively beyond the government's control. In these areas, a variety of terrorist groups, including Hizballah, the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS), the Abu Nidal organization (ANO), the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), continued to operate with relative impunity, conducting terrorist training and other operational activities.
Although no anti-US attacks occurred in Lebanon in 1996, the official US presence there remains under threat. Hizballah's animosity toward the United States has not abated, and the group continues to monitor the US Embassy and its personnel. Group leaders routinely denounce US policies and condemn the Middle East peace process.
Lebanon pursued several high-profile court cases
against suspected terrorists in 1996:
The Lebanese Government pursued through several appeals the case of the 1976 kidnapping and murder of US Ambassador Francis E. Meloy and Economic Counselor Robert O. Waring. In March the civil courts found the two accused guilty of the kidnappings but not the murders. Although the murder of diplomats is not covered by Lebanon's 1991 amnesty law, the law did apply to the kidnappings. Consequently, one of the accused was freed; the other continues to be held for unrelated crimes.
Aliases:
Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad, Revolutionary Justice Organization, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine.
Descrption & Ideology:
Hezbollah was created in 1982 during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, by Iranian military intelligence. An offshoot of the Muslim Lebanese militia group Amal, Hezbollah is a radical Shia based group that is dedicated to achieving two goals: The removal of Israeli troops in Southern Lebanon, and establishing an Islamic republic in Lebanon. Its ideology is strongly anti-West, anti-Israel, pro-Iranian and pro-Syrian.
Location & Areas of Operation:
Hezbollah
operates from numerous areas around the world. Its primary areas of focus
in Lebanon are the Bekkaa Valley (training headquarters), southern suburbs
of Beirut (operational planning and administrative headquarters), Tehran,
Iran (international headquarters) and Nabatiyah, Lebanon (regional
headquarters in South Lebanon). They are also known to have training camps
in Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, South Africa and Nigeria Hezbollah maintains
cells and activities in the Ivory Coast, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Iraq,
Romania, Sweden, Syria, Turkey and Western Europe. It is also rumored to
have training facilitates in the jungle borders of Argentina, Brazil and
Paraguay.
Strength & External Support:
Currently Hezbollah is estimated to have between 4,000 to 5,000 active militia and paramilitary units in Southern Lebanon and 500-700 members active in cells active internationally. Hezbollah's primary source of financial support is the Islamic Republic of Iran. With the acquiesce of Syria serving as a conduit, it is estimated that Tehran appropriates between $50-$600 million dollars a year to Hezbollah. At the same time Hezbollah raises funds from its involvement in heavy drug cultivation and trafficking in the Bekkaa Valley in Lebanon and receiving zakat (alms-giving) from wealthy and pious Lebanese Shias.
Activities:
Hezbollah has been known or suspected in numerous terrorist attacks against the United States and Israel. Suspected incidents against the U.S. involve the suicide truck-bombing of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983 and the U.S. Embassy Annex in Beirut in September 1984. This group hijacked TWA flight 847 in 1985. Elements of the group were responsible for the kidnapping and detention of most, if not all, US and other Western hostages in Lebanon. In March 1992 Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for carbombing of Israel's Embassy in Buenos Aries, Argentina. Hezbollah has been engaged in a guerrilla campaign against Israeli and its Lebanese militia allies in Southern Lebanon. It has employed suicide bombings against Israeli convoys and the use of Kaytusha rockets on military and civilian targets in Northern Israel. Military shipments from Iran had fulminated into growing military confrontation against Israel, leading to Israeli introduction of massive ground forces into Lebanon in 1993 and 1996. Hezbollah is able to maintain support for its operation from Lebanese living in the South. A considerable amount of their funding goes to an extensive network of humanitarian and social welfare projects. Hezbollah maintains more than 45 medical dispensaries and a number of hospitals and clinics in Lebanon. These organizations help to foster grass root support among Lebanese to support Hezbollah's terrorist tactics against Israel.
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)
Description:
Marxist group that split from the PFLP in 1969. Believes Palestinian national goals can be achieved only through revolution of the masses. Opposes the Declaration of Principles (DOP) signed in 1993. In early 1980s occupied political stance midway between Arafat and the rejectionists. Split into two factions in 1991, one pro-Arafat and another more hardline faction headed by Nayif Hawatmah (which has suspended participation in the PLO).
Activities:
In the 1970s carried out numerous small bombings and minor assaults and some more spectacular operations in Israel and the occupied territories, concentrating on Israeli targets. Involved only in border raids since 1988, but continues to oppose the Israel-PLO peace agreement.
Strength:
Estimated at 500 (total for both factions).
Location/Area of Operation:
Syria, Lebanon, and the Israeli-occupied territories; attacks have taken place entirely in Israel and the occupied territories.
External Aid:
Receives financial and military aid from Syria and Libya.
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
Description:
Marxist-Leninist group founded in 1967 by George Habash as a member of the PLO. Advocates a Pan-Arab revolution. Opposes the Declaration of Principles signed in 1993 and has suspended participation in the PLO.
Activities:
Committed numerous international terrorist attacks during the 1970s. Since 1978 PFLP has carried out numerous attacks against Israeli or moderate Arab targets, including the killing of a settler and her son in December 1996.
Strength:
Some 800.
Location/Area of Operation:
Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied territories.
External Aid:
Receives most of its financial and military assistance from Syria and Libya.
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC)
Description:
Split from the PFLP in 1968, claiming that it wanted to focus more on fighting and less on politics. Violently opposed to Arafat's PLO. Led by Ahmad Jibril, a former captain in the Syrian Army. Closely allied with, supported by, and probably directed by Syria.
Activities:
Has carried out numerous cross-border terrorist attacks into Israel using unusual means, such as hot-air balloons and motorized hang gliders.
Strength:
Several hundred.
Location/Area of Operation:
Headquartered in Damascus, bases in Lebanon, and cells in Europe.
External Aid:
Receives logistic and military support from Syria, its chief sponsor; financial support from Libya; safehaven in Syria. Receives support also from Iran.