Feed: Hezbollah may become sole ruler of Lebanon, say terrorism experts - AggScore: 12.8

Hezbollah may become sole ruler of Lebanon, say terrorism experts

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caption id alignalignleft width112 captionHezbollah was welcomed with opened arms by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Photo Police Timesimg srchttpcdn2b.examiner.comsitesdefaultfilesstyleslargehash194a194a6157bd5b378e30dcad3de606addc.jpg alt width112 height123 captionWith Lebanons government in total disarray after 11 ministers from Hezbollah and its allies resigned, counterterrorism experts believe the sophisticated terrorist organization is one step closer to controlling the entire nation. Experts on Middle East terrorism believe Hezbollah is a group that owes its allegiance to Iran and is a strong supporter of Syrias Baath Party government.Hezbollah members of the Lebanese governmentmadetheir decisions to resign based on theirdispute over the United Nations tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The UNwas believedintent onissuing indictments against members of Hezbollah.Hezbollahtranslated the Party of God is a powerfulterror organization in Lebanonwhose membershipis predominatelyShia Muslim. It was initially createdwith the help andfinancialaid from Iran in the early 1980s and began a struggle to drive Israeli troops from Lebanon.In 1983, Lebanese militants who went on to join Hezbollahs ranks carried out a suicide bombing attack that killed 241 US Marines in Beirut, which lead to President Ronald Reagans withdrawal order for all US military peacekeepers.Hatred forthe Jews in Israelcontinues to definethe Hezbollahs political platformplatformeven when the last Israeli troops left Lebanon due in large part to the success of Hezbollahs military arm, the Islamic Resistance.Hezbollahs popularity peaked in the 2000s, but took a dent among proWestern Lebanese people when it was at the center of a huge, destructive war with Israel following the capture of two Israeli soldiers in 2006. Yet, the group remainsa powerful and aggressive member of Lebanons proSyrianpopulace. It has capturedseveral seats during electionsto the Lebaneseparliament andthere are several Hezbollahministers in the government as of November 2009.The U.S. Department of Statehas longlisted Hezbollah as an internationalterrorist organization and has accused it of destabilizing Lebanon in the wake of Syrias withdrawal of its troops from the country following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.Hezbollah leaders have continued to profess its support for Syria, while stressing Lebanese unity by arguing against Western interference in the country.When Hezbollah fightersabducted two Israeli soldiers in a crossborder strike thatkilled severalothers, that attack ignited a fierce monthlongbattle with Israel, which eventuallyended in a ceasefire. Hezbollah with the help of the news media declared victory, enhancing its reputation among many in the Arab world.While Hezbollah concentrates its power in Lebanon and the Middle East, there are reports of its activity in South America including Hugo Chavezs Venezuela and reports or activitiesand arrests within the United States.For example, ten Hezbollahsuspects were charged with conspiring to export weapons from Philadelphia to Syria, as well as other criminal acts, according to a report obtained by the Terrorism Committee of the National Association of Chiefs of PoliceAccording to the indictment, Hassan Hodroj and Dib Hani Harb attempted to provide material support to Hezbollah in the form of approximately 1,200 Colt M4 Carbines machine guns.Harb and other defendants including Moussa Ali Hamdan and Hasan Antar Karak were also charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hezbollah in the form of proceeds from the sale of fraudulent passports, counterfeit money and stolen genuine money.In addition, Hamdan and several other defendants were charged with several counts of transporting stolen goods, trafficking in counterfeit goods, and making false statements to government officials.