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OVERALL THREAT ASSESSMENT

Hezbollah poses a significant threat to the United States. It is a religiously motivated terrorist organization with a has a long political history in the Lebanese government, which justifies itself as a resistance movement dedicated to protecting its country. Hezbollah has an organized structure, which is divided into different categories and is overseen by several Lebanese council members. It is controlled by a leadership team made up of many individuals including a general secretary, a political advisor, and a terrorist operations planner. The organization has many members and followers found domestically and internationally. Hezbollah has received support from outside sources for funding, supplies, training, weapons, and much more. It has proved its capabilities through terrorist attacks, which have used countless conventional and unconventional methods and weapons. Throughout history, there have been several ways in which the United States has combated terrorism. However, the organization’s growth and capabilities have created cause for concern when ensuring the United States’ national security. This will extensively discuss Hezbollah’s history, leadership, organization, motivation, capabilities, connections, location, and how the United States can take steps towards better ensuring national security moving forward.

HISTORY

Hezbollah (the “Party of God”) was formed in 1982 as a response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. It is known as a Shiite Islamist militia, political party, social welfare organization, and terrorist organization (Addis & Blanchard, 2011). The organization prefers to define itself as a resistance movement, which defends the oppressed and Lebanon against Israel. However, the United States and European allies have long considered Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

In the early 1990s, Hezbollah began participating in the Lebanese government following the Taif agreement, which ended the fifteen-year civil war and allowed Hezbollah to remain an armed organization (Masters & Laub, 2014). When the Lebanese government suggested limiting the organization’s communications and arms, its members seized parts of Beirut. To eliminate hostility and maintain peace, Hezbollah was granted veto power in the cabinet following the Doha agreement (Terrorist Groups: Hizballah, n.d.).

In the early 2000s, Hezbollah participated in the national elections and won ten parliament seats (Masters & Laub, 2014). Following its victory in the national elections, Hezbollah voiced their manifesto and views on democracy, which were unwavering. During this time, Hezbollah’s political presence and strength started to grow significantly. In recent years, it played a large role in taking down the Saad Hariri government. Hezbollah has continued to participate in the Lebanese government to this day.

MEMBERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP

Hezbollah has a unified leadership structure. A seven-member council, Majlis al Shura, is responsible for appointing a general secretary for a three-year term (Addis & Blanchard, 2011). However, the council altered its rules to allow a general secretary to serve beyond two consecutive terms (Addis & Blanchard, 2011).

In 1992, Hezbollah’s founder and general secretary, Abbas al Musawi, was assassinated. In 1993, the council appointed Hassan Nasrallah as general secretary. Hassan Nasrallah has remained Hezbollah’s general secretary and is supported by a second-in-command (Naim Qassem), a political advisor (Hussein al-Khalil), a logistics coordinator (Mohammed Yazbik), a terrorist operations planner (Imad Fayez Mugniyah), and many others (Masters & Laub, 2014).

Imad Fayez Mugniyah was considered one of the most dangerous leaders of Hezbollah, as he was listed on multiple international most wanted lists for his involvement in many terrorist attacks. In 2008, when Imad Fayez Mugniyah was assassinated, it was considered an important loss to the organization’s leadership (Addis & Blanchard, 2011).

Hezbollah’s leadership is also supported by numerous members. Its membership is made up of applicants and recruits who are willing to commit to the organization’s ideological beliefs. “Specialized recruiting bodies exist for women and youth” (Addis & Blanchard, 2011).

STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION

In its infancy, Hezbollah was loosely organized. However, the organization has evolved to be more organized. Different aspects of Hezbollah’s activities are divided into five sub-councils, which is overseen by the same council that appoints the general secretary. The five sub-councils the council oversees include: the Political Assembly, Jihad Assembly, Parliamentary Assembly, Executive Assembly, and the Judicial Assembly (Masters & Laub, 2014).

Each assembly is responsible for monitoring and managing certain aspects of the Hezbollah’s activities. The political assembly is responsible for all relations with domestic political actors. The Jihad Assembly is responsible for all resistance activities. The Parliamentary Assembly is responsible for all parliament activities. The Executive Assembly is responsible for all political party activities. The Judicial Assembly is responsible for religious and conflict mediation activities (Addis & Blanchard, 2011).

CURRENT GOAL AND MOTIVATION

Hezbollah’s views and goals have evolved over time. However, its main goal is to resist Israel and Western involvement in Lebanon and implement an Iranian-style regime. In the 1980s, the organization released a military, religious, and anti-imperialist platform influenced by Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (Masters & Laub, 2014). This platform became known as Hezbollah’s 1985 manifesto.

The manifesto states, "Our primary assumption in our fight against Israel states that the Zionist entity is aggressive from its inception, and built on lands wrested from their owners, at the expense of the rights of the Muslim people. Therefore our struggle will end only when this entity is obliterated. We recognize no treaty with it, no cease-fire, and no peace agreements, whether separate or consolidated" (Masters & Laub, 2014).

However, in the early 2000s, Hezbollah’s general secretary, Hassan Nasrallah, introduced a new manifesto. The manifesto was similar to Hezbollah’s 1985 manifesto, but was altered to support domestic and international political changes. Though Hezbollah’s leadership structure and views have changed over time, it continues to allow the manifesto to guide the organization (Addis & Blanchard, 2011).

TACTICS AND CAPABILITIES

Hezbollah implements conventional and unconventional military tactics. The organization has been known to use weapons suitable for ground, air, and information warfare. It has used weapons such as assault rifles, rockets, missiles, tanks, and unmanned aircrafts. “The preparation of well-disguised explosive devices has become a specialty of Hezbollah” (McGregor, 2006).

Though Hezbollah’s specialty is explosive warfare, they have mastered information warfare. The Central Intelligence agency (CIA) had several foreign spies operating in Lebanon. However, the organization uncovered the foreign spies’ identities, which allowed them to partially unravel the CIA’s spy network, which left the CIA vulnerable (Major CIA Network Unraveled, 2011).

FUNDING AND CONNECTIONS

Hezbollah is supported predominantly by its neighbors, Iran and Syria. Iran uses Syria as a vehicle to provide the organization with funding, training, supplies, weapons, and so on (Masters & Laub, 2014).

Hezbollah receives a large fund from Iran each year, which can reach up to at least $200 million (Masters & Laub, 2014). However, the organization has received funds elsewhere as well. In 2011, the United State uncovered a $150 million money laundering scheme, which linked back to a Lebanese bank, Lebanese Canadian Bank, and Hezbollah (U.S. Government Seizes $150 Million, 2012).

Iran doesn’t only support the organization financially, but it also provides Hezbollah with military training and weapons through the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Hezbollah members are trained to use both simple and complex weapons such as anti-aircraft guns, Kalashnikov assault rifles, grenades, missiles, and so on (McGregor, 2006).

Specific weapons used by Hezbollah include the following weapons: SA-7 missiles, ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns, AT-3 Saggers, AT-4 Spigot missiles, and others. However, the Katyusha rockets are one of Hezbollah’s biggest assets. The organization is believed to have at least 20,00 Katyusha rockets, as they are easily attainable, have more transportability, and allow a faster escape (McGregor, 2006). However, these are the only weapons that the organization has been known to use. It is likely that Hezbollah has weapons in its arsenal that it has not yet used.

With increased Iranian investment in Hezbollah, the organization has become more dangerous. “Current international assessments of Hezbollah’s military capabilities reflect concern that the organization has replenished and improved its arsenal and capabilities since 2006” (Addis & Blanchard, 2011).

LOCATION/SCOPE/MAGNITUDE

Hezbollah operates primarily in Shiite-dominated areas. However, “Hezbollah’s network and activities extend beyond Lebanon and the Levant, though experts are divided over their extent and nature” (Addis & Blanchard, 2011, Pg. 20). The organization is believed to operate in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and North America.

In the Middle East, Hezbollah has implemented fundraising activities and supported Palestinian terrorist activities. In Africa, Hezbollah has created extensive businesses that control imported goods. In Latin America, Hezbollah has received support from sympathizers through legal and illegal means and supported the terrorist attack against the Israeli Embassy in Argentina. In North America, Hezbollah used the Middle East’s charitable organizations to launder money (Addis & Blanchard, 2011).

Though there is limited evidence of Hezbollah’s involvement in some of the international locations, it has made its presence known in certain ways. With multiple connections, Hezbollah has multiple potential threats.

COUNTERING THE THREAT

Hezbollah has developed significantly and has proved itself to be a capable and dangerous terrorist organization. Detecting, preventing, and combating any terrorist organization is no easy task. To ensure the United States’ national security against Hezbollah, multiple measures have been taken. However, some analysts and observers believe the United States’ measures are outdated.

In the past, the United States’ approach involved Hezbollah being designated as a Specially Designated Terrorist (SDT) in 1995, a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 1997, and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2001 (Addis & Blanchard, 2011). The United States also blocked assets under United States jurisdiction, limited its involvement with countries in the Middle East, and called for disarmament of non-state actors. However, the organizations proved capabilities in anti-United States terrorist attacks has forced the United States to reexamine the ways in which they approach threats from terrorist organizations.

There are multiple methods in which the United States can better ensure national security. The first is to extensively analyze the organization’s past attacks. The second is to create and implement new procedures to detect and eradicate weapons that can be used in a terrorist attack. The third is to increase and strengthen security in more than just government buildings. The fourth is to effectively use tools the United States has readily available such as fusion centers, Field Intelligence Groups (FIGs), and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) (Velez-Villar, 2012). The fifth is to get citizens involved through campaigns such as the “If you see something, say something” campaign, which encourages not only the government, but the public to speak up if they see something suspicious. The sixth, and most important, is to continue to develop preventative and combative procedures against terrorist organizations, as threats continue to evolve each year. By taking these steps, the United States can implement and use its resources more effectively to detect, prevent, ad combat threats from terrorist organizations like Hezbollah.

References

Addis, C. L., & Blanchard, C. M. (2011, January 3). Hezbollah: Background and Issues for Congress. Retrieved February 13, 2017, from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R41446.pdf

Amidror, Y. (2007, March). THE HIZBALLAH-SYRIA-IRAN TRIANGLE. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from http://www.rubincenter.org/meria/2007/03/Amidror.pdf

Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing Fast Facts. (2016, November 2). Retrieved February 15, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/world/meast/beirut-marine-barracks-bombing-fast-facts/

FLASHBACK: April 18, 1983: U.S. Embassy Attacked in Beirut. (2014, July 10). Retrieved February 15, 2017, from https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2014-featured-story-archive/flashback-april-18-1983-u-s-embassy-bombed-in-beirut.html

Kifner, J. (1984, September 21). 23 DIE, INCLUDING 2 AMERICANS, IN TERRORIST CAR BOMB ATTACK ON THE U.S. EMBASSY AT BEIRUT; BLAST KILLS DRIVER. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/21/world/23-die-including-2-americans-terrorist-car-bomb-attack-us-embassy-beirut-blast.html?pagewanted=all

Major CIA Network Unraveled by Hezbollah, Iran. (2011, November 21). Retrieved February 13, 2017, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/major-cia-network-unraveled-by-hezbollah-iran/

Masters, J., & Laub, Z. (2014, January 3). Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu'llah). Retrieved February 13, 2017, from http://www.cfr.org/lebanon/hezbollah-k-hizbollah-hizbullah/p9155

McGregor, A. (2006, August 01). Hezbollah's Tactics and Capabilities in Southern Lebanon. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from https://jamestown.org/program/hezbollahs-tactics-and-capabilities-in-southern-lebanon/

Terrorist Groups: Hizballah. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2017, from https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/hizballah.html

U.S. Government Seizes $150 Million in Connection with Hizballah-Related Money Laundering Scheme. (2012, August 20). Retrieved February 13, 2017, from https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/newyork/press-releases/2012/u.s.-government-seizes-150-million-in-connection-with-hizballah-related-money-laundering-scheme

Velez-Villar, E. (2012, February 28). Testimony: Intelligence Sharing with Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement 10 Years After 9/11. Retrieved May 17, 2016, from https://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/intelligence-sharing-with-federal-state-and-local-law-enforcement-10-years-after-9-11