OVERALL THREAT ASSESSMENT: MODERATE
While Hezbollah comprises a significant threat to the foreign policy interests of the U.S., it does not comprise an existential threat to the United States.
Hezbollah’s primary threat is to Israel and the Lebanese government, and it has traditionally manifested this threat through kidnappings, bombings, hijackings, street demonstrations, and other acts of terror.
There is a secondary threat arising against the U.S. military from Hezbollah, however, and that is Hezbollah’s funding and training of Shi’a militia groups in Syria, and its cooperation with Iranian forces in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State, and also against Kurds and Sunni militants in both countries. The threat here is considerable, …show more content…
While estimates vary, Hezbollah’s military membership is estimated as high as 20,000. Further, Hezbollah may have as many as 7,000 fighters in Syria. These troops are propping up the Syrian regime both as front line fighters, and also providing training and expertise to the Syrian military against the Sunni militia groups that oppose Bashar al-Assad and the government of Syria. This is important when assessing Hezbollah’s potential as a threat, because it demonstrates that Hezbollah now has a new generation of combat-experienced troops, some of whom will be adept at fighting against U.S.-trained forces. These troops will eventually find their way into leadership positions in the organization, if they haven’t done so, …show more content…
Secondarily, they are motivated by an allegiance to the Shi’a faith, which allies them with the Syrian regime and Iran, both major players in the Syrian conflict.
Children as young as six participate in Hezbollah as part of a Hezbollah youth movement. Some are the sons of Hezbollah fighters killed in combat; these are considered “sons of martyrs” and given special treatment. Indoctrination into Hezbollah can begin at a very early age.
The leader of Hezbollah, at present, is Hassan Nasrallah, who serves as its secretary general. Nasrallah’s predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by the Israeli Defense Forces in 1992.
Another leader to consider is Talal Hamiyah, the head of Hezbollah’s External Security Organization, which plans and executes terrorist operations outside of Lebanon. Not much information is publicly available about Talal Hamiyah.
EFFECTIVENESS OF LEADERSHIP
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is considered an extraordinary leader, and is considered responsible for the organization’s relatively recent foray into politics. He is immensely charismatic and extremely popular in Lebanon; the Council on Foreign Relations notes that “excerpts of (Nasrallah’s) speeches are even used as cell phone
While Hezbollah comprises a significant threat to the foreign policy interests of the U.S., it does not comprise an existential threat to the United States.
Hezbollah’s primary threat is to Israel and the Lebanese government, and it has traditionally manifested this threat through kidnappings, bombings, hijackings, street demonstrations, and other acts of terror.
There is a secondary threat arising against the U.S. military from Hezbollah, however, and that is Hezbollah’s funding and training of Shi’a militia groups in Syria, and its cooperation with Iranian forces in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State, and also against Kurds and Sunni militants in both countries. The threat here is considerable, …show more content…
While estimates vary, Hezbollah’s military membership is estimated as high as 20,000. Further, Hezbollah may have as many as 7,000 fighters in Syria. These troops are propping up the Syrian regime both as front line fighters, and also providing training and expertise to the Syrian military against the Sunni militia groups that oppose Bashar al-Assad and the government of Syria. This is important when assessing Hezbollah’s potential as a threat, because it demonstrates that Hezbollah now has a new generation of combat-experienced troops, some of whom will be adept at fighting against U.S.-trained forces. These troops will eventually find their way into leadership positions in the organization, if they haven’t done so, …show more content…
Secondarily, they are motivated by an allegiance to the Shi’a faith, which allies them with the Syrian regime and Iran, both major players in the Syrian conflict.
Children as young as six participate in Hezbollah as part of a Hezbollah youth movement. Some are the sons of Hezbollah fighters killed in combat; these are considered “sons of martyrs” and given special treatment. Indoctrination into Hezbollah can begin at a very early age.
The leader of Hezbollah, at present, is Hassan Nasrallah, who serves as its secretary general. Nasrallah’s predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by the Israeli Defense Forces in 1992.
Another leader to consider is Talal Hamiyah, the head of Hezbollah’s External Security Organization, which plans and executes terrorist operations outside of Lebanon. Not much information is publicly available about Talal Hamiyah.
EFFECTIVENESS OF LEADERSHIP
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is considered an extraordinary leader, and is considered responsible for the organization’s relatively recent foray into politics. He is immensely charismatic and extremely popular in Lebanon; the Council on Foreign Relations notes that “excerpts of (Nasrallah’s) speeches are even used as cell phone