The Hezbollah (“Party of God”) movement was formed in 1982 in Lebanon by a segment of the Shia community displeased with the secular, in their view, nature of the Amal moderate Shia party. There were also disagreements concerning whether Israel should be confronted using new organizational forms and methods of warfare. According to its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, since its formation, Hezbollah was a purely intra-Lebanese creation, relying on the support and aid from the Palestinian and Lebanese parties, while the support from Iran and Syria came later.
Hezbollah flag
Since the very beginning, Hezbollah’s activities have been based on three principles. First, Islam is declared an ideological, doctrinal, and practical basis for the organization’s functions. Secondly, its main aim is the struggle against Israeli occupation of Lebanon and Palestine and against Zionist domination. Third, it recognizes the Iranian Shia thesis concerning the necessity of Vilayat-e-Fakih. This Shia doctrine asserts that during the era of the 12th Great Reappearance of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi the leadership over the Shia is transferred to high-ranking Shia clerics.
Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah
Structure and Decision Making
Hezbollah, as an organization, has a structure based on certain ideological principles and exists within the framework of a state, that has no actual influence on the movement’s activities. The party is led by the Shura Council consisting of 7 members (six spiritual leaders—ulemas—and one secular leader). The members are elected by the Central Council (Al-Majlis al-Markazis), consisting of the 200 most authoritative members of the movement. Shura Council elections consist of three phases. The first is the candidate selection (usually 70-80), both clerics and secular individuals who satisfy the criteria set by the top leaders. Those who pass this stage have the right to participate in the second stage. In other words, they become candidates for the Shura Council. As a rule, 10-15 people make it to the second round. The final phase consists of the direct election of the 7 Shura Council members.
A political map of Lebanon
Council decisions are final and religiously binding for all party members. They are adopted either unanimously or by the majority of votes. If there is a deadlock or a split within Shura Council, issues are decided by the party leader, whose decisions are final and obligatory on all administrative institutions, and cannot be challenged. This is how the principle of Vilayat-e-Fakih is observed and splits within the ruling elite are averted.
The actual operations of the party are conducted by the administrative executive apparatus, known as Shura Tanfiz. It consists of five councils:
- Executive Council (oversight over political and organizational matters, including social, cultural, and educational activities);
- Politburo (addresses intra-movement matters);
- Parliamentary Council (concerns itself with Hezbollah activities in the Lebanese legislature);
- Judicial Council (issues religious resolutions and carries out arbitration on matters of disagreement, relying on Islamic law); and
- Jihad Council (directs the movement, including oversight, recruitment, training, equipment, security).
Each council is usually headed by a Shura Council member.
The movement General Secretary is Hasan Nasrallah, who is also the supreme commander of its armed formations. Leadership also includes his deputy, a spiritual leader who is also the supreme judge, some Lebanese legislators, the military formation commander for Southern Lebanon, and regional leaders of the organization. The Executive Council has various departments responsible for specific areas of activity: welfare, healthcare, information, press, finance, external communications, coordination.
Armed Formations and Their Peculiarities
Assessments of Hezbollah’s armed strength vary. Iran’s FARS news agency data from October 2016 put Hezbollah’s armed strength at no less than 65,000 troops, including reserves. Of them, 21,000 are professional soldiers with constant training. According to the 2017 Military Balance, currently 5-8 thousand Hezbollah troops are fighting in Syria.
Bekaa Valley: the regional commander’s responsibilities include control over arms shipments from Iran through Syria for the “Sheikh Abdallah” military camp that’s under joint command by the Hezbollah and the Syrian army. According to various sources, this region’s forces consist of at least 7 infantry battalions with 252 people each. Three of them are motorized.
South Beirut: according to various sources, this region includes at least two battalions of 252 troops, one of them motorized.
South Lebanon: after the Taif treaty of 1989, Hezbollah formations were reorganized and placed under a unified command. The current commander is responsible for Hezbollah military and Special Security formations and may also command Lebanese Army units in South Lebanon. This region includes at least 7 battalions of 252 troops each, five of them motorized.
Moreover, one should note the nontrivial fact of the existence of a full-scale, by Iranian, NATO, and Russian measures, tank regiment. In November 2016, near the city of al-Quiseir (Homs province, Syria), there was an inspection of Hezbollah equipment.
Battle tanks
The photos showed T-55, T-62, and some T-72 tanks, some 2S1 Gvozdika howitzers, BMP-1, and -2, M113 APCs with 14.5mm machine-guns, ZSU-57-2 SPAA. Most of this equipment apparently came from SAA arsenals and was obtained from the Lebanese Army and possibly Iran.
Anti-aircraft gun on full-tracked chassis
Of most interest are the hybrids assembled using Kvadrat (SA-6) SAM tracked chassis and Soviet-era KS-12 85mm and Ks-19 100mm AA guns.
Anti-aircraft unit
While their effectiveness against modern aircraft and drones is doubtful, they are useful as direct fire support against land targets. Other interesting weapons are the modern Kornet ATGMs mounted on quadricycles. These self-propelled ATGMs are able to effectively fight any modern tank, including Israeli.
M113 APC with 14.5 machne gun
M113 APC with 14.5 machne gun
By all appearances, this unit was formed to prosecute the war in Syria, where thousands of Hezbollah fighters are constantly on the front lines. The absence of direct fire support such as tanks and artillery undermines the success of operations. Therefore it’s logical to assume that Hezbollah decided to assemble an arsenal of its own armor and accompanying artillery to ensure battlefield success.
Kornet ATGMs mounted on quadricycles
Being a fully-fledged political and military organization, Hezbollah understands that it is surrounded by enemies such as Israel and radical Sunni Islamists. Therefore having a tank regiment with experienced crews is of vital importance, as the unit represents a serious force by the standards of Lebanon and the adjacent countries. The prolonged civil war in Lebanon, the permanent stand-off with Israel, and now also the struggle against Sunni Islamists, in other words, the constant balancing on the edge between war and peace, makes the movement flexible in its command arrangements and able to quickly and appropriately react to emerging problems.
One can also draw the conclusion that the paramilitary wing of the Hezbollah, in spite of external attributes of a partisan movement, which it was 20-30 years ago, is gradually becoming a fully-fledged army with a training establishment, a command structure, and a logistical segment.
Cadre Selection and Training
The preparation of a future fighter starts at a very young age. Kids aged 6 are involved in discussions and as they grow, they receive more advanced political and religious preparation. A sample training regimen includes: Studying Koran, A day at the mosque, I love my country, How to run a household, Summer camp, I submit to my leader. Younger kids’ uniform, as a rule, includes blue shirts with epaulettes, white scarves, and pins with the image of Khomeini.
Older boys spend several weeks during the summer in camps in the south and in Bekaa Valley, where they train and acquire survival skills while obtaining more in-depth religious preparation and studying their native language and culture.
Then they transfer to the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts. One of the scouts’ missions is helping the poor. According to the Scouts head, if kids who lost their father or their brothers were left to their fate, they would withdraw inwardly and develop psychological problems such as aggression.
At the age of 17, those who excelled at the Scouts become members of Taabia, or the reserves.
At the same time, education does not seek to promote absolute hatred toward Israel, despite what Western journalists love to depict. The education system is first and foremost based on developing a national and religious identity, the context in which the Shia community of Lebanon exists.
In an interview provided by a Hezbollah fighter, it was noted that those who choose political independence become social pariahs. Such people can’t even visit their villages, given that the family and the society hate them.
Cadre troops are focused on combat training, and each receives a specialty such as an ATGM gunner, a sniper, or demolitions. Regular Hezbollah fighters undergo training in specialized camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Iran (under IRGC officer leadership). They conduct training for the rank and file and select outstanding individuals for special units. Some of them become commanders, others are selected for the Special Security Apparatus.
Taabia reservists are engaged in protecting villages and are selected from the Scouts. Cadre fighters and reservists undergo service in one of the districts: Israel-Lebanon border and the Litania river area—Nasr Brigade, north of Litania—Badr Brigade, Bekaa Valley—Haidar Brigade.
Each Hezbollah brigade in south Lebanon has a sector in northern Israel that it is supposed to occupy. Combat and special training in each brigade take into account local geography. One should also note that border terrain is fortified: there is a large-scale network of tunnels, bunkers, minefields. Using the tunnels, Hezbollah can concentrate large number of troops on the needed attack sector without being spotted and attacked from the air.
Hezbollah fortifications
Due to fighting in Syria, Hezbollah opted to conduct training courses with reservists lasting 60-90 days. Commanders are also sent to the battle zone to obtain experience. Intensive operations and unavoidable losses have forced commanders and troops to remain in the war zone (murabata) for longer than their rotation periods. For the reservists, it was 15 days a year. Before the Syrian war, the border with Israel was considered such a zone. Currently, the rotation period in the Syrian war zone is 20 days and may be increased if the situation demands it. This is considered optimum, as it allows for having trained and rested troops available in case of any escalation on Israel border, and in Syria.
Here’s an example of a news report regarding deployment of Hezbollah units from May 20, 2017. The Radwan special unit and others were fully withdrawn from Syria and replaced by the Badr Brigade which is stationed in the eastern and northern part of the Aleppo province. Aziz Brigade was withdrawn from the outskirts of Palmyra and al-Qaem Brigade temporarily replaced it there.
Moreover, the Radwan unit was brought to an elevated alert level and sent to south Lebanon (Litania river and Shebaa farms on Israel border). Al-Jalil Brigade, intended for operations in Galilee in case of war with Israel, remained on its permanent positions in south Lebanon. Nasr Brigade, which is directly under Hasan Nasrallah, remained in reserve.
The Radwan unit was named after the head of Special Security department Imad Mugniyeh (pseudonym al-Hadja Radwan) who was killed in 2008. The unit has much experience in raids and is the most prepared for urban warfare, which makes it irreplaceable in Syria. If there is a new war between Hezbollah and Syria, it will be in the first line of attack.
Military Doctrine. Specifics of Fighting in Syria
Hezbollah leadership reviewed its concept of operations after the start of the Syria war. Before the war, the emphasis was placed on defensive ops in built-up areas with small units to inflict maximum troop and equipment losses on the IDF while simultaneously shelling Israel using large numbers of short- and medium-range rockets.
In Syria, Hezbollah realized that it had to wage offensive ops in cities. Therefore it reconsidered its training system, increased its rocket arsenal, and provided more heavy weapons and recon systems.
The first operation where Hezbollah took offensive using large units was the battle for el-Quseyr in April-June 2013. Some 1200-1700 best-trained Hezbollah troops took part in the battle. They were divided into 17 detachments, with later division into teams of 3-5 troops. Prior to the attack, the command performed recon of the city and its approaches, then divided the city into 16 sectors, one for each detachment. Each region had its codename. During the battle, this allowed for command of forces using open channels of communication without the enemy being able to take any countermeasures. Hezbollah command undertook the direction of SAA tank and artillery units near the city.
Considering that the city was in the Islamist hands for over a year and was well-fortified, the ratio of losses was nevertheless 5:1 in favor of Hezbollah. The battle showed that with proper organization, a fortified city can be effectively attacked by a small force.
Hezbollah parade with a mock missile launcher. MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images
As far as the military direction of Hezbollah units in Syria by Iran is concerned, it seems probable that Iran directs Hezbollah units down to battalion level (sometimes down to company) using IRGC specialists from the al-Quds Force. It can’t be ruled out that IRGC specialists coordinate Hezbollah and local self-defense forces like the Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq. Units smaller than a battalion don’t warrant the provision of specialists. There is a need for a large number of trained cadres able to command and provide assistance. One of the factors influencing cooperation in this instance is the language barrier—Arabic in Lebanon, versus Farsi in Iran.
Hezbollah became one of the factors which allowed to turn around the war in Syria, since its troops were able to fight in cities. The SAA, in 2011-12 was organized along 1970-80 lines to fight combined arms battles mainly against Israel. New realities have shown that this army was unable to fight as small units in the cities. Moreover, the SAA has not fought for a long time. Its last significant operations took place in 1982. Therefore it had no commanders with urban warfare experience. Hezbollah, on the other hand, has constantly fought Israel since the moment of its creation. Generations of commanders have honed their skills in the years of clashes and battles with the IDF, causing it serious losses during the 2006 war. Israel was forced to retreat from south Lebanon, and Hezbollah’s reputation has risen to unprecedented heights.
Israel’s military command is worried about Hezbollah’s operations in Syria, since its paramilitary wing will now be able to wage offensive ops using heavy weapons and a huge number of short-, medium-, and long-range rockets.
The fact that Hezbollah has become akin to a regular army is confirmed by IDF’s rethinking of its approach to the fight against it. First, IDF is preparing for fighting big formations, up to a brigade, whose task will be invading Israel and capturing villages or military bases. Second, it is paying special attention to combating tunnels, including technical and psychological preparation of its troops to fight in tunnels.
Rocket Arsenal
The movement’s distinguishing characteristic is the enormous rocket arsenal which, by various estimates, contains between 50 thousand and 120 thousand weapons. And not merely an arsenal, but a whole system, from rocket part and fuel factories to storage facilities and camouflaged launch sites.
A Hezbollah fighter stands near an empty rocket launcher
The existing land-based arsenal is reflected by the following table:
Click to see the full-size image
* –depending on the specific variant.
MRL – multiple rocket launcher missile
SSM – surface-to-surface missile
SRBM – short-range ballistic missile
Type 63 MRL
As we can see, most of the weapons come from Iran and Syria. The possession of Scud-Ds is doubted, including doubts of the Western media. This system requires qualified personnel and specialized equipment, since the rocket uses liquid fuel.
Khaibar
Khaibar MRLS
To assess Hezbollah’s effectiveness, let’s look at the shelling of Israel in 2005. At the start, according to Nasrallah, there were over 12 thousand rockets. Official Israeli police reports noted 3770 rocket strikes on the country, including 901 strikes in the cities. Thanks to civil defense, only 44 were killed and 1384 were wounded. One is also tempted to note that Hezbollah mostly used rockets with ranges under 100km and small warheads, as no SRBM strikes were noted. This was due the small number of SRBMs and Israeli effort to destroy them, which was partly successful. Hits by 600-980kg SRBM warheads would have had catastrophic consequences on cities. The presence of SSMs proved a surprise for Israel. On July 14, 2006, Israeli corvette Hanit was hit by a Chinese-made C-802 SSM launched from the short. The ship’s air defense was turned off since nobody expected an SSM attack. 4 sailors were killed and the corvette was incapacitated for 3 weeks. The 165kg warhead most likely failed to explode, otherwise, the corvette would have sunk.
Farj-3
Farj-5
Having a large rocket arsenal made in Iran, PRC, and Syria, raises the question of whether Hezbollah has its own factories of rockets. If it does, they manufacture certain numbers. It’s been a long time since the last war with Israel. Launching a rocket after lengthy storage could be dangerous to its launch crew. It would seem that the war in Syria is being used to use up old Russian and Chinese rockets of which it has large numbers. The situation is more complex with SRBMs. They are very expensive to make. It would make no sense to establish their production on territory which at any moment could be bombed by Israel. With proper servicing, such rockets can be stored for up to decades. It’s likely that some assistance here is provided by Iranian civil and military specialists.
Falaq
Fateh-110
Building a rocket plant on the territory of another country is a whole different matter. In August 2017, Israeli media reported that Iranians are building a ballistic missile plant in north-west Syria. It is built near the coastal city of Banias, tens of kilometers from Tartus where the Russian base is located, and south of Hmeimim where Russian aircraft are based, protected by S-300 and S-400. Therefore the factory can be protected against Israeli strikes. According to experts, the plant will produce Fateh-110 rockets for the SAA and, possibly, Hezbollah.
The rocket arsenal has been modernized and expanded. At the start of the next war, Hezbollah will be able to launch 1500 rockets a day, instead of 200 in 2006, covering the whole territory of Israel and not only the border regions. There are reports that Hezbollah has Russian Yakhont surface-to-surface missiles obtained from Syria, instead of the unreliable C-802.
Yakhont
Yakhont
Therefore Hezbollah rocket arsenal is not a network of warehouses full of artisanal rockets, dangerous to own crews. It’s a whole range of industrially produced weapons capable of destroying land and naval targets at various ranges.
C-802
All of the above does not mean Hezbollah seeks war with Israel, whose leadership should be aware that if there is another war in south Lebanon, Israel’s civilians will face unprecedented threats.
Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence
Hezbollah’s Special Security department is responsible for both intel and counter-intel, and implements several missions, one of the most important being professionally carried out operations abroad at the behest of Shura Council. Imad Fayez Mughniyeh was a head of Special Security department until 2008 when he died in a car bomb blast in Kafr Sousa neighborhood of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Responsibilities of the department’s head in Shura Council include overseeing the following departments:
- National preventive security apparatus, which provides personal security to high-level spiritual leaders.
- Internal security and intelligence apparatus, which tracks political and religious reliability of the Hezbollah members.
- National central security apparatus, which observes, tracks, infiltrates, and if necessary eliminates military or political individuals or groups seeking to interfere with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
- Foreign combat cells and intel apparatus. This department partly overlaps with the central security council, depending on types of requests received by cell leaders.
Imad Mugniyeh is the individual who made this department one of the most powerful secret services in the world. He was born in 1962 in the Tayr Debba village in south Lebanon. He started his career in the mid-1970s in the FATH organization. In 1977-82 he was a member of its intelligence and special units (Force 17, Unified Security Directorate, etc.). After an advanced course under IRGC instructors at the Imam Ali base in Bekaa province, he headed the personal security team for Hezbollah leader Muhammad Husein Fadlallah.
Before 2005, Hezbollah was to a large extent integrated into Lebanese intel services, including Amn al-Amn Main Directorate for Common Security which expanded its ability to carry out intelligence and counter-intelligence ops. After Hezbollah was accused of being complicit in the death of former Lebanese PM, Rafik Hariri in February 2005, Hezbollah members were forced to leave Lebanese secret services, which affects the movement’s intel work.
The Special Security department studies Iranian and Israeli experience. According to Israeli intel members, Hezbollah has a large agent network in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and AMAN military intelligence. This opinion is supported by the presence of limited access Israeli Ministry of Defense maps, manuals, and documents on captured Hezbollah members.
Hezbollah fighters stand on their armed vehicles and hold their party flags, as they parade during a rally to mark the 13th day of Ashoura, in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.
The movement’s intel successes are largely based on exploiting familial and criminal ties between Israeli and Lebanese Arabs, and the well-oiled cooperation between Hezbollah intel and Palestinian Authority armed formations. Moreover, Hezbollah intelligence often uses interrogations of captured officers and soldiers, and data obtained through recruitment of senior Israeli officers. For example, Hezbollah was able to recruit IDF Lt. Col. Omar el-Haiba, a Bedouin. This officer occupied a high post in the Western district HQ. He was one of the most capable Bedouin officers in the IDF. After a serious wound, he was disabled but nevertheless returned to the IDF and earned awards for his agitation among the Bedouins. This officer was arrested on suspicion of giving Hezbollah secret information on IDF forces on Lebanon border and the schedule of patrols. On June 18, 2006 a court martial sentenced him to 15 years in prison for espionage, contact with enemy agents, and drug trade.
Due to the secrecy regime in Special Security Apparatus, little is known about foreign terrorist and intel cells. As a rule, they become known only after major events. Hezbollah selects people for special ops from among its own special units. These people are believed to be well trained and prepared to die for the sake of the mission. Some of them are from Arab and Islamic organizations that have ceased to exist. All of Hezbollah’s special ops are handled by Special Security apparatus, with support from Iranian and Syrian intel and special ops forces, and from the IRGC.
Members of the overseas cells are thoroughly trained. They have knowledge and information about the country where they work. They speak the language of the country. This attracts less attention from civil and military authorities.
Infiltration unit equipment in includes Israeli or other military uniforms, depending on the mission. Units infiltrating Israel speak Hebrew, use Israeli weapons and equipment as camouflage, and are familiar with all types of weapons used in the region. Members of special infiltration units and members of the suicide units differ, among other things, by their uniforms. For example, Jihad Detachments wear green or black clothing, carry Semtex, C-4, or C-9 charges, and usually wear masks on operations.
The following Jihad Detachments are known:
- Islambula Brigade: assassination of political activists.
- Al-Quds Brigade: two units of suicide bombers consisting of 56 each, the Fathi Shkaki Company and the Ihye Ayasha Company.
On Imad Mugniye’s initiative, in the early ‘90s a special unit of Hebrew-speaking Lebanese Palestinians was formed. It had the task of eavesdropping on IDF army frequencies. Later, SSA sought to improve their language and professional skills at the Center of Islamic Science and Culture and its branches in Iran, Cyria, and Lebanon.
One should note that the Hezbollah units and controlled territories are targets of Israeli human intelligence efforts. Israeli Border Police (MAGAV) includes the YAMAS unit which camouflages its members to look like Arabs. During the 2006 war, Hezbollah counterintelligence located and destroyed an Israeli agent network in south Lebanon and Beirut. The network conducted espionage in Hezbollah HQ and transmitted this data to the IDF. Agents from among local population set up equipment to monitor Hezbollah military installations and used GPS devices to guide munitions, spread glow-in-the-dark powder around buildings and command centers, rocket warehouses and launch sites. Still, IDF and Israeli intel was not able to kill or capture a single senior Hezbollah official or destroy the command system, since the shelling of Israel continued no matter what.
The Media: Agitation and Propaganda
Hezbollah places particular importance on the media. It owns a satellite TV channel (al-Manar), four radio stations, and five newspapers. Without any doubt, Hezbollah’s image was to a large extent formed by al-Manar, which has been broadcasting since June 1991, and has gone satellite in 2000. It has become Hezbollah’s face to the world. The channel is unique, before its existence Arab media consisted of newspapers and radio stations. Experts believe its audience is second only to al-Jazeera. Al-Manar became the official channel of the movement, demonstrating accomplishments, particularly in the realm of fighting Israel. Its broadcasts consist mainly of news and political programs, broadcasts dedicated to the memory of martyrs, informational and entertainment shows. It is also unique in that it broadcasts in Hebrew for the Israeli population. While Western media depict the al-Manar as propaganda for a terror group, the channel does not broadcast any information on making bombs, executions of Israeli soldiers, blowing up of checkpoints, and other forms of cruelty.
Hezbollah radio stations al-Nour and al-Iman broadcast from southern Beirut. Al-Islam broadcasts in south Lebanon, and Sawt al-Mustad’afin broadcasts in the area of Bekaa river valley. There are also newspapers: Al-Bilad, al-Ahd, al-Muntalaq, al-Sabil, and Baquitou Allah.
The movement has a website, www.moqawama.org. Its content includes the most important news from Lebanon and the world, video addresses by movement leader, respecting the memory of martyrs, opinion polls, and memorable dates in the movement’s history. Agitation video broadcast by TV and web channels are of high artistic and directorial quality and take into consideration the preference of the audience and Arab mentality not only in Lebanon but the world.
Social Work
Even though the Hezbollah is known in Western media as a terror organization, it defies that label by the multifaceted aspect of its activities. Apart from fighting in Syria and against Israel, it is part of Lebanon’s legislature, provides education and medical services to the Lebanese. In 2000-2010 Hezbollah spent several billion dollars on humanitarian efforts in Lebanon. The organization builds kindergartens and schools, hospitals and clinics, and even supermarkets. Its fighters and their family members can take advantage of many services with major discounts. Education in Hezbollah-built schools is cheaper than in public schools. The poor obtain stipends. Of course, the education focuses on the Arabic language, Islam, and Shia traditions. But English language and physical sciences are also taught. These schools provide a very high level of instruction by ME standards.
The media also focus on those who fell for the freedom and independence of Lebanon. As a sign of respect for the martyrs, which is how Shia community views them, the funerals are attended by senior officials. They also participate in any funerals of people who perished in battle or in other circumstances. This is apparently due to Hasan Nasrallah’s having suffered a personal loss. His eldest son Hadi became a martyr during fighting in south Lebanon.
If the killed fighter had children, they are taken under care, receive education or jobs. In spite of financial problems, providing money for cadre soldiers and for the families of the dead is the top priority.
Mu’assasat Jihad al-Bina’ or the Fund for Sacred Struggle was founded by the Hezbollah in 1988. It quickly became one of the most visible NGOs in Lebanon. Although it is autonomous, its activities fall under the purview of the social services department of the movement. Its main aim is to “lessen the burdens faced by the poor families by relying on God’s aid in fulfilling their moral and Islamic obligations.” The Fund operates in southern districts of Beirut, Bekaa Valley, and south Lebanon. The fund provides more than half of population of those regions with water, helps farmers with procuring livestock, fertilizers, fuel. It carries out electrification of the most backward villages.
Mu’assasat al-Shahid, or the Martyrs’ Fund, supports the children of killed or captured fighters and civilians. It provides housing, jobs, and support for widows and runs a job placement office for the youth.
Lujnat Imdad al-Khomeini, or the Khomeini Support Committee, was formed right after Israeli aggression of 1982. It helps poor families, particularly those which suffered from Israeli occupation. The aid includes monthly benefits, food parcels, basic necessities, clothing, health services, and education. The committee provides medical assistance, including through medications, diagnoses, surgeries, and rehabilitation, to tens of thousands of patients a year. The financial and technical incapacity of the Lebanese government, particularly the Ministry of Health, forced the movement to take under the control of the Islamic Health Unit the hospitals of south Lebanon.
Hezbollah education department is headed by an office titled al-Ta‘bia’ al-Tarbawiyya, or the Education Directorate. It provides financial aid to needy Hezbollah members. Its expenditures are extremely important to the movement, because public schools suffer from lack of funds for construction and education technology.
The education department also provides needy students higher education in applied sciences, and religious studies in various institutions such as Technical Institute of the Great Prophet, the Technical Institutes of Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi, the Institute of Sayydat al-Zahra’, the Institute of Shaykh Raghib Harb, and the Islamic Shari’ah Institute.
Other types of aid include paying for textbooks and school materials, and part of the tuition in public and private schools.
Economic and Financial Activities
A variety of sources of funding—donations, business, and Iran’s support—ensure the party’s independence and economic stability. Its assets are held in the Saderat Bank of Iran or in other banks in accounts of front individuals, to prevent the US and the West from freezing its assets. The party is a huge corporation whose assets belong to the whole party, not just specific individuals.
The main sources of funding are:
- Direct subsidies from Iran, no more than $100 million per year, though $200 million before the fall of oil prices.
- Contributions by Shia community in and outside of Lebanon
- Profits from economic and banking activity.
Income from smuggling, illegal sale of weapons and drugs, are not taken into consideration in this context.
According to Pew Research Center and the World Factbook (CIA), here is the approximate number of Shia in countries where they represent a high percentage of Muslims:
Click to see the full-size image
Total: approx. 200 million worldwide.
One should keep in mind that Pew data have often been criticized by Western experts and Shia diasporas for underestimating Shia numbers.
According to World Labor Organization, average salaries in these countries in 2016 were:
Click to see the full-size image
The Islamic concept of Zakat states that when it comes to deeds performed in God’s name, including supporting warriors waging jihad, the poor, or people propagating Islam, the average worker should contribute 2.5% of theirsalary.
Considering the multi-child families which are the rule in Muslim countries (one does not consider non-working wives and children), zakat may be paid by up to 10% of the community.
In this case, contributions by country look as follows:
Click to see the full-size image
From this sum, the Shia diaspora may contribute no more than 1/5, or 120 million USD, for financing Hezbollah.
This calculation does not include income tax, since each country has a different tax law. One should also keep in mind that not all Shia in the West and Persian Gulf are supportive of Hezbollah’s military aid to Syria. For example, NGO surveys of Shia in the Persian Gulf states in the second half of 2013 suggests that the percentage of supporters fell to 30-50%. This is apparently due to the Hezbollah being given an image of the aggressor by the media of these countries, which can’t help but influence financing. After IS was proclaimed in 2014, India’s Shia issued a statement proclaiming readiness to send 30,000 volunteers to Iraq to fight radical Islam. There is no information concerning the Shia of India or neighboring countries providing aid for Syria.
More than 100,000 Lebanese have permanent residence in African countries, including 60,000 in Cote d’Ivoire, 25,000 each in Senegal and Sierra Leone, 16,000 in Nigeria, 6,000 in DRC, 5,000 each in Gabon and Cameroun. The majority of Lebanese in Africa are not Christians but Shia. They have concentrated control of much profitable business, which allows them not only live well but support their historical motherland. In 2008 alone, money transfers from African Lebanese exceeded $1 billion. It is difficult to assess Lebanese Shia affluence in Africa due to the never-ending financial crisis. Since it is Hezbollah that runs active social programs in Lebanon, one can assume the majority of remittances ends up on the organization’s accounts.
Overall, the movement collects no more than $500 million a year. It’s not much, considering it is waging a war in Syria and is financing the social sector of the whole country.
Why Hezbollah Became a Middle East Powerhouse and Its Transition to a Quasi-state
After the IDF withdrawal from most of Lebanon in 1985, Hezbollah with active support from the IRGC began to create its own weapons arsenals, and the January 1989 Damascus-Tehran agreement allowed Hezbollah to restore its military infrastructure and resume operations in south Lebanon. Thus by 1991 Hezbollah became the leading Lebanese resistance force, operating in the country’s south against the IDF
Starting in early ‘90s, Hezbollah began a transition away from being a purely paramilitary formation. In the summer of ’92, Iran’s leaders recommended Hezbollah transform itself from an openly extremist organization into an active Lebanese political force. Hezbollah reached an internal compromise between the “moderates” and “radicals”, established a ceasefire with Amal, and began active preparation for parliamentary elections. Hezbollah today acts as the leading political force in Lebanon and as a major Shia social and humanitarian organization (Lebanon has an estimated 2.5 million Shia out of 6.2 million total population). IDF withdraw from south Lebanon in 2006 was a huge victory in the eyes of the Arab world. Hezbollah has truly become a significant regional factor. Growing its influence in Lebanon and Syria and the region with Iran’s help, Hezbollah has become a base for recruitment, training, and preparation of volunteers for battling Israel and radical Sunni organizations. Hezbollah units often fight like regular army nits.
One of the reasons for the rise of Hezbollah’s regional influence is the strategic coordination between the Lebanese and Iraqi Shia, and also Syrian Alawites due to the continuous war in the Middle East. It’s important to note that the organization has proved its worth even in the darkest hours of Lebanon’s history, such as the many years of almost uninterrupted slaughter, but also during the perennial clashes with its external adversaries, even dangerous ones like Israel.
Opinions of Iran’s influence vary. Some experts claim Iran’s aid is so important that it fully affects all aspects of Hezbollah’s decision making process. Naturally, Iran’s authority as the leader of the Shia around the world is near-absolute. It also provides Hezbollah with tremendous military aid. Moreover, the movement has suffered losses in Syria, it’s most professional and best trained fighters have perished there, which weakens the organization. Therefore Hezbollah leaders have to show more flexibility and care in its dealings with Iran if differences of opinion arise.
Military situation on Syria and Iraq on October 2, 2017
The most likely explanation is that Hezbollah maintains considerable independence due to its exceptional political standing in the country, and of its nature as a strike force against Israel and Syria’s Sunni. Since the start of conflicts in Syria in 2011, Nasrallah tried to maintain neutrality. Hezbollah became involved only in 2013 when the situation grew out of control and there was a danger of combat spreading to Lebanon. Nasrallah stated in one of his announcements that” Iran should be viewed as the center of strategic influence in the region, as the model of a sovereign state which supports nations in their search for independence and as a force which helps countries and nations of the Middle East become stronger. Syria and Iran can’t force Hezbollah to act against its own plans. They can only argue with us and try to convince us.”
Since its independence, Lebanese government paid little attention to the problems of the southern parts of the country. Therefore Hezbollah has assumed the role of helping the poor and developing infrastructure not for self-promotion, but because it was an objective necessity. Practically since birth, a Lebanese Shia is under Hezbollah’s care. Kindergartens, clinics, schools, and institutions—all of that has been built and is financed by the movement. So it’s no surprise that the movement is hugely popular and service within its ranks is considered honorable.
One should especially note that today Hezbollah is more than a movement. Even though it has not declared sovereignty over part of the country, it has every attribute of a state. It has legislative, executive, judicial authority, institutions for the collection and distribution of taxes, its own education system, a military, intelligence and counter-intelligence, media—all of that exists and functions within the movement’s framework. Moreover, it has control over its subjects, the totality of information about them and, most importantly, it relies on their good will to work with the movement in some form. The concept of citizenship is not after all defined by a passport but by the individual’s willingness to associate to a state or a movement and be loyal to it.
Here’s what is written about it by one of Hezbollah’s ideologues and the deputy general secretary, sheikh Naim Kassem: “From the theoretical point of view, we are calling for an Islamic state, we are drawing others into that process, since only an Islamic state may facilitate the maximum of human happiness. But on the practical level this question depends on the free human choice, in addition to the Quran Ayat 2.257: There is no compulsion in religion. The correct way is quite separate from the false one. Whoever does not believe in idol worship but believes in God, has found a reliable foundation which cannot be crumbled. Verily, God is all-hearing and all-knowing.”
The victory of radical Sunni groups in Syria would mean the possibility of merciless annihilation of all other religious groups, following the Iraq scenario. After the US invasion of Iraq triggered a civil war and later the appearance of ISIS, which proved unspeakably cruel toward all other beliefs, it sent the message that in these conditions of ethnic and religious warfare, only paramilitary organizations like the Hezbollah can ensure their own survival.
Conclusion
Hezbollah’s popularity among Lebanese Shia is based on several factors: its military campaign against Israel, its wholly Lebanese nature, its role as a defender of the historically repressed Shia community, its religious nature and its wide range of social services.
Hezbollah has done more for the Shia community in Lebanon than the official government. Since the very start of its involvement in the war in Syria, the movement leaders that its fighters are defending Lebanon, Lebanese Shia, and Shia holy sites from the spread of extremist Sunni Islam, represented first and foremost by Jabhat al-Nusra and IS. According to Nasrallah, this was not a war of choice but of necessity.
Lebanese NGOs which carried out a survey in 2015 noted that 57% of respondents view the threat of radical Islam to Lebanon as real, and 80% view Hezbollah as making the life in Lebanon calmer. Lebanon today, just as the Middle East as a whole, is experiencing renewed inter-religious and inter-communal slaughter. People living in unstable and unpredictable countries are trying to find protection and support among their own national or religious community. Therefore it is no surprise that Hezbollah enjoys such unconditional support among the Shia of Lebanon and Syria, even if they don’t fully support the movement’s aims and mission.
kudos to a dynamic and spiritually driven regional power feared by zio satanic terrorists …. God’s protection always
hezbollah is the best medicine for cancerous zio satanic losers …
violence is not a medicine, they never achieved anything but bloodshed, mostly on themselves
lol peshmerga using violence = ok hezbollah using violence = not ok
u israeli devil what do you want? u know your clock is ticking and hezbullah will hunt down every zionist pig in the middle east
violence is the only medicine your kind understands peace brought suffering and occupation its time to throw the infidel invaders out into the mediterran sea they can drown along with the imperialist ideas
hahahah, you are an imbecil fanatic and a traitor to the ancient kurd culture, you arab whore!
you was not able to negate this:
lol peshmerga using violence = ok hezbollah using violence = not ok
I sense anxiety in your “hahahah”.
acient kurd culture? what do u smoke? in acient times there was no kurd
besides is being arab something bad u racist piece of shit? why does the kuffar consider every muslim an arab? arabs make only 15% of all muslims
is an indonesian muslim also an “arab whore” in your eyes?
I don’t smoke.
Kurds have been there together with the Persians since the Guti, wich are their forefathers.
Arabs are not a race, they are geneticaly Semite, but race does not exist in humanity as scientists have prooved.
The Arabs invented islam, so that is why i called him Arab whore. An indonesian is also an “arab whore” for he also abandoned his own culture and faith for islam
So Europeans and Americans, are mostly “paul whores” for they followed the faith invented by paul (they think it was jezus wich is not true)
“race does not exist” False. Visit Detroit or s. India some day. Severe restrictions and censorship on science regarding race.
you just wabble something
that is race in cultures, a fairytale, all cultures are, in the end
Scientists have proved no such thing, academia fags with no brain make such incredibly stupid claims. One SPECIES several races, and many ideological and cultural groups, the worst in the entire wold and its history: Talmudists, they are the scum of the earth, the filth underneath my shoes, worthless scum.
there are no races in homo sapiens
Keep repeating it like a mantra maybe it will become true.
hahaha, it is science it has allready been prooved in the 20th century
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(human_classification)
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3737365/
http://blog.world-mysteries.com/science/how-many-major-races-are-there-in-the-world/
You should read what you post, and see beyond the doublespeak. New Academia definitions bore me to death anyone can invent them and more the goal posts, but only an idiot would buy in to it, when he is not blind and has seen racial differences, but prefers to have an “expert” tell him that his eyes and common sense deceive him, so the idiot ignores or losses his common sense.
Of course there are races the genetic differences are there, and just because, BS leftists want to define what number of genetic differences make up the definition of race, does not mean those genetic differences do not amount to race. It is called setting up and controlling the narrative.
just stay in your backward extremist nationalist evil worldview, i am done talking with you. you like a world in wich diferences between people are bigger then neccessary, i do not.
1.- Not nationalist. 2.- Not blind that i can’t see racial differences. 3.- Not extremist even if you are a Talmudist (yeah this is my only sin, oh god I am an anti-semite what am I to do?!). 3.- No difference is bigger than compromise and diplomacy, differences can actually make us be closer together if we see those differences as complement instead of denying them or not being able to notice them because you rely on others to tell you what is and what is not.
one more question: what “race” is my daughter, her mother is african dark skin and i am north european? And when she will have children with her afghan boyfriend, what race will those children be?
Mixed race, like a mutt, there are many cute mutts out there, I have picked up some strays myself that very smart and can be trained in the order of 20+ words, specially this mutt I had that was around 80 percent GSD (predominant genes), but they are still mutts, nothing wrong with that, most people now a days are mutts.
So, in what way, the talmud is worse then the old testament, the quran or the hadith? and do not come with some stupid anti jew website. Show me real passages from the talmud!
Repost your question without using a false equivalence.
The Talmud is not an inspired text, it is a compilation of writings as understood by Rabbis.
So try again cupcake
just show me evidence, buddy boy! you just post empty statements..
Already did, if you don’t know what is false equivalence or did not get the logical explanation, then you are lost cupcake.
Precisely.
The only thing the Zionists understand is force. All else is futile.
‘Hezbollah will hunt down every zionist pig in the Middle East’.
Nut-yahoo is clearly panicking. How ironic his Greater Israel project using Daesh has resulted in Hezbollah missile factories in Syria under the defense umbrella of Russia’s Tartus base.
Meanwhile the death merchant McCain who funded and had selfies with moderate beheaders has a brain tumor that has little chance of being cured.
Karma is a bitch.
Hezbollah and most of the world.
Talmudists will be hanging by the neck from lamp posts in every region of the world.
Zionists want to be hated by the entire wold so they can claim to be victims, this is why they steal and kill and they do it mostly like any other coward through subterfuge, then point the fingers at others accusing them of their own misdeeds. Evil in every sense of the word.
Is this you? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a4acc1dab2cccaa83ad4328c21fa1cf88dfc0f0535ed653dd876504d26fda9fc.jpg
no one said it is a medicine but resitance against israel and america in the region and fighting zionism and wahabism and not to follow their orders is an honour. besides hezbollah has the most clear record between all armed groups and armies in the middle east.
no one? see above zainab ali did
pashmerga and sdf zinoist using violence is medicine or not, matt?
you really think this is worth an answer???
Tell that to the US/NATO alliance !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@disqus_8IIISEZIcY:disqus … Peshmerga and PKK never achieved anything but bloodshed and violence … planting bombs and killing civilians …
Says the Kurd.
Hey Matt, fuck off back to your polish ghetto; Zio dog fucker.
shut up white trash racist pig
What makes you think I’m white? But what colour is a Zionist baby killer? White AshkeNAZI, slum dwelling, baby’s foreskin biting, child killing, land stealing, Zionist dog fucker? Suck shit Zionist pig, soon hezbollah will rain death on your AshkeNAZI skull.
It is for the Talmud illness. You will see you will get better or die in the process.
very true sister
Long Live Hezbollah! Hezbollah fighters constantly protect Christian shrines and Christian villagers in Lebanon and Syria from the Western-backed Takfiri jihadists. Than you Hezbollah! See the pictures below:
https://thesaker.is/a-very-telling-picture-of-a-hezbollah-fighter/
There is a verse in Qur’an, though I can’t quote it exactly. But I will paraphrase:
“If Allah did not raise one group to keep another group in check, then there would be no churches, mosques, synagogues, or cloisters in which to worship.”
Hezbollah appears to be that group that is keeping the takfiris in check, and is also keeping “Israel” in check. Hopefully the WISE leaders in “Israel” (if there are any such leaders there) will come to realize that they must learn how to live with their neighbors, and give up their idea of dominating everyone.
If they do not, then they will cease to exist.
viva hezbollah viva nasarollah
They call Hezbollah a terrorist group but they have done more fighting ISIS than the US coalition. I fully respect and support their work.
no. because hezbollah attacks civilians.
And the IDF and American coalition doesn’t?
no. thea yattack terrorits between civilians. hezbollah thousend times shot directly civilians, where there were no soldiers.
@solomonkrupacek:disqus really … ?So when Israel kills civilians .. oh .. there were terrorist hiding behind civilians…but guess what…. its Israels DF who have been caught using civilians… check out the link below from Israel news sites… http://www.btselem.org/topic/human_shields https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.530993 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/21/israeli-soldiers-human-shield-avoid-jail You are funny …
than also saa is terrorsit organization. dont be fool woolfie!
@Solomon I got no idea what you are trying to say .. are you saying its alright for IDF to use civilians as Human shields … ?
Hah
u are reatarded kid
sure, mr. professor
@solomonkrupacek:disqus …. no … he is RIGHT … ! .. LOL ..
Zionist disinfo hasbara troll alert. Solomon the Joo is spreading Zionist filth.
All israelis are sleeper soldiers that had underwent compulsory military training. Are in fact army reserves. Legit targets.
choldren are never legitim target.
In that case then why shouldn’t Israel intentionally target Palestinian civilians? All are brainwashed to become Jew hating child jihadists anyway.
Solly, I think that when the perverted rabbi bit your foreskin off all those years ago he also sucked your brain out through the end of your tiny, little schmozzle.
another nazi? stalin was too mild.
Hezbollah is designated by IsraHell and the West as “terrorist” because it represents an obstacle to their hegemonic aspirations. Iran and anyone else are the same.
Hezbollah is indeed WEAK and even 10 times weaker THEN Assad. They are foreign forces reliant and can’t really go at it themselves against the rebels or ISIS or SDF and not even against FSA.
The Russians, Iran and the US + NATO is fighting in Syria and on Assad’s side make no mistake folks.
Hezbollah is “very weak”, yet it resisted from the 1980s and repelled the Zionist cancerous presence in Lebanon in 2000. Israeli military officials called it a “humiliating defeat”.
Hezbollah is “very weak”, yet it resisted and won the war IsraHell waged on them in 2006. War that was planned by IsraHell as early as January of 2006.
How Hezbollah Defeated Israel https://www.counterpunch.org/2006/10/13/how-hezbollah-defeated-israel-2/
Olmert’s leaked testimony reveals real goal of summer war https://electronicintifada.net/content/olmerts-leaked-testimony-reveals-real-goal-summer-war/6803
In 2006 Hezbollah won nothing. Lost lot of core fighters, another fighters. israel had minimal losses and fullfilled all goals of war. Hezbollah was able to destroy 20 merkavas from 400, participating on idf action. only 12 merkavas were destroyed by atgms, rest with 3-500 kg mines under roads. 20 merkavas, while hezbollah lost so much equipment and factories… this was lost war. so much lost, that from that time hezbollah changed its policy and is very careful against israel.
Are you serious or trolling?
Let me rewind. The 2005 false-flag assassination of Rafik Hariri was meant to achieve the following objectives:
• blame Syria/Hezbollah/Iran
• remove Syria from Lebanon (no complaints there)
• start another civil war in Lebanon (which was then suppose to spill to Syria)
• disarm Hezbollah
You can read about it here:
Revelations on Rafik Hariri Assassination http://www.voltairenet.org/article167553.html
When the disarmament of Hezbollah failed, IsraHell launched the planned war against Hezbollah in the Summer of 2006. The war was planned by Olmert, the US and treacherous elements within the Lebanese government (Elias Murr). https://www.counterpunch.org/2010/12/10/the-story-of-elias-murr-saboteur/
Had you bothered reading the How Hezbollah defeated Israel article, you would not have written such ludicrous nonsense in response.
What IsraHell did in 2006 is use its airforce to cowardly attack civilians, civilian neighborhoods, civilian infrastructures (bridges, airport), commercial/industrial buildings unrelated to the war, etc. It did not reach any of its objectives. Hezbollah is not disarmed and is stronger than ever. The next war will be handled much differently – hence why IsraHell’s rectum is prolapsing with the war in Syria not going their way.
bullshits
Some are born dumb. Others decide to be dumb. And then, there is your ilk.
Oh here she is again.. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a2e8cd6659b8df764e66377a826e94315d97ebdb72721ca7df26e3dcf6be4956.png
stupid..
Mountains is the Joo troll’s first name; it’s full name is Mountains Of Zionistbullshit.
hezbollah is only paramilitary organization. in comparison with id 4th class. hazbollah can play with isis/al qaida, IF IS SUPPORTED by RuAF/SyAF. otherwise nothing.
hezbollah did not beat. hezbollah suffered big losses and retreated before idf. after fullfilling of goals idf left lebanon. thats all. in six days israel was able to destroy armies of almost million soldiers. 8 000 hezbollah fighters had no chance. israel also did not hit with all force.
2006
• which goals did IsraHell reach?
• when and from where did Hezbollah retreat from?
• IsraHell launched the war on June 12. On June 21, it had to use its reserve army. How did it win? Do tell.
1967
• Which “millions” did IsraHell defeat in 1967?
IsraHell launched surprise attacks on the surrounding countries and then lied it was attacked. The US spread the lie alll over the mainstream media.
Israel Deceived the World in 1967, and Paid the Price for It in 1973 https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/six-day-war-50-years/.premium-1.793400?v=468D284A8195F7A900335562AB1D6D64
Fifty Years, Fifty Lies https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/six-day-war-50-years/.premium-1.793000?v=3DCCAC8595CCDBA3449AD1467A7BD552
• Egypt closed the Straits of Tyran legally
• Egypt did amass troops at its border following Soviet intel that informed Egypt that IsraHell was readying to attack. The Soviet intel was confirmed by the CIA. IsraHell attacked Egypt. Not the other way around.
• On June 8 1967, IsraHell attacked the USS Liberty (a ghost ship gathering telecom) despite identifying it as American nine hours prior. The next day, IsraHell attacked Syria, broke the cease-fire and invaded the Golan Heights.
• IsraHell also invaded the West Bank and Gaza in 1967.
Truth of the matter is that nobody ever attacked IsraHell. 1948 was not any different: in the last three months of the British Mandate, the Zionist Jewish vermin attacked the unarmed Muslim and Christina population and seized 400+ of their towns and villages (this is the list of them: https://www.scribd.com/mobile/document/349720246/Palestinian-towns-and-villages-attacked-and-seized-by-Israel-in-1948).
The mainstream media spread the Zionist lie: that the Arab countries attacked IsraHel pursuant of declaring independence but that was a lie. The hundreds of towns and villages were attacked and seized 3-4 months before them declaring independence (illegally). The Arab countries intervened in Palestine to restore peace and not IsraHell. If you believed otherwise, tell me which part of the land granted to IsraHell by the UNSCOP was stepped in and invaded/attacked.
The case of 1948 was identical to 1967: invade/attack and then lie you were attacked.
I look forward to the day IsraHell gets an overdose of its own medicine. It will be the best day on Earth.
syria against israel? syria lost all wars against israel. syria will have problems to produce enough food for people, not organize wars.
Syria never launched a war against IsraHell.
In 1967, after attacking the USS Liberty, it attacked Syria – breaking the cease fire – to occupy the Golan Heights.
Satire?
I would agree: cretinism.
Even the American Revolution-airs were foreign reliant. They relied on Russia to fund the Revolution. In fact greater then 98% of all such movements rely on foreign help. Israel relies on USSA always.
Excellent and informative piece. Would have liked some information on the organization’s participation in the Lebanese political process and alliances with Christian groupings.
May Hezbollah live long and strong.
Amen to that
I got a Hez T-shirt when I was in Baalbek :D
Hezbollah does live up to its meaning ‘Party of God’. In the mess that is created by the Anglo-Zionists the Hezbollah is the antidote. Hezbollah is key to filling the loss of manpower in Syria as a result of the Greater Israel project that included the Daeshbags.
Looks like Hezbollah is trying more and more to be more like a conventional Army … This may not be a good idea .. They have been very successful as a guerrilla Fighting Force … I do not know how they intend to compete with Israel with those antiquated Tanks and old armoured AA guns .. all it does is give them a false sense of confidence and a big target for the Israel Air Force … The imbalance is too big … Hezbollah cannot challenge IDF with conventional Armed might …
Being a conventional army doesn’t mean fighting in open fields. It’s only a disadvantage if they try to invade Israel, something I don’t see them trying to do.
They are structured as a defensive force to make an Israeli invasion very expensive. Being a conventional army has an advantage because it standardizes their training, command structure, discipline and acceptance with the Lebanese population. You don’t want a few rogue elements wandering around looting villages and ruining your reputation.
Thank you for this outstanding article. Just a tiny remark: There is no real language barrier: There are quite a few Iranian with excellent Arabic and some Libanese with excellent Farsi.
In Iran Arabic is the second language in most schools
Hezbollah needs more long range range surface to air missiles; They probably could do with more technical know how and more tanks! They are a great job but, needs more weaponry and also more technical devices to pick up jets in their air spaces. They also need to force the UN to hand Lebanese lands back to Lebanon.
I’ve always had great respect regarding Hezbollah even with all the BS propaganda about it. Actions speak louder than words and this applies to the constant EVIL actions of Israel.
Western media in former days blinded me. Now i see who the real terrorists are. And those were the US and Israel. And Europe is a lackey of them
God Bless!
Thank God for hezbollah, and long live the resistance to zionism and imperialism! There is the light of hope within the darkness of imperialist oppression. May Allah shine the light of truth to the people of the world. Brother Timothy
Sexual liberation will bring more happiness to some people, but it will also bring pain to others. I think some traditional ideas have their own advantages. The key is that everyone is willing to accept some kind of Level of equality concept. Click:Fuck you.
A coquettish woman may not be sexy because she has released too much sexual energy; a sexy woman may not be coquettish because she has abundant sexual energy in her body. Click:Being fucked.
Hezbollah is in deed junors of it own if you look at the world you know that there is west and east but connected most at the North of Europe to Denmark and Russia to Alaska that says every body is different but remains one it never said one should dominant on one. Geographically east more larger so east should dominante however they use the world human rights and millitary forces and democracy to concurred the east lucky we got lot of resistance from Iran to china Hezbollah Taliban Russia and north Korea are standing up to make story short force violence and lies was used to concurred also economy which means the the east have more resources than west so thing will be better with time not now I come in peace all hail Hezbollah