Hezbollah
From Metapedia
Hezbollah (literally "party of God") is a Shi'a Islamic political and paramilitary organisation based in Lebanon. The group's official name in Arabic is Hizb Allah Al-moqawama Al-Islamiyah fi Lubnan.[1]
Hezbollah first emerged during the Lebanese Civil War in the early 1980s as a militia of Shia followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini, trained, organized and funded by a contingent of Iranian Revolutionary Guards.[2] In its 1985 manifesto Hezbollah listed its three main goals as the eradication of "Western colonialism" in Lebanon, the bringing to justice of those who committed atrocities during the war (specifically the Phalangists), and the establishment of an Islamic government in Lebanon.[3][4][5] Since then Hezbollah has temporarily abandoned the goal of transforming Lebanon into an Islamic state at this time.[2] Hezbollah leaders have also made numerous statements calling for the destruction of Israel, which they describe as an unlawful "entity".[3][4][5]
Six countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia , officially list Hezbollah, or its external security arm, as a terrorist organization, though its designation as such is not unanimous among world powers (perhaps most notably, the European Union[6]). Most in the Arab (including Christians in Lebanon[7]) and Muslim worlds regard Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance movement.[1]
Hezbollah has popular support in Shi'a Lebanese society[8] and has mobilized demonstrations of hundreds of thousands.[9][10][11] According to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Hezbollah receives its financial support mainly from the donations of Lebanese Shi’ites. "According to frequent accounts in the western press, the group also receives considerable support from Iran and Syria".[12] Hezbollah has "operated with Syria's blessing" since the end of the Civil War.[9][13] Hezbollah, which started with only a militia, has grown to an organization with seats in the Lebanese government, a radio- and a satellite television-station, and programs for social development.[14] Since 1992, the organization has been headed by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, its Secretary-General.
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