Lebanon

Policy Analysis on Lebanon

Imad Mughniyeh and Hezbollah's Shadow War: A Washington Institute Backgrounder

In January 2015, an airstrike in Syria – reported to have been carried out by Israel – killed several Hezbollah operatives, including Jihad Mughniyeh, son of the Lebanese terror group's late operational mastermind, Imad Mughniyeh. The elder Mughniyeh played a crucial role in Hezbollah's terrorist strategy, tactics, and tradecraft, as

Jan 30, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

A War Like No Other: Israel vs. Hezbollah in 2015

Current expectations that the two sides can manage escalation may not hold true, and a new war would be more intense and destructive than in 2006.

Jan 29, 2015

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Jeffrey White

Brief Analysis

Hezbollah's Limited Options After Israeli Strike

With its Lebanese Shiite constituency increasingly vulnerable, its Iranian patron hobbled by other commitments, and its regional reputation in tatters, Hezbollah will likely think twice before responding forcefully to the Quneitra attack.

Jan 23, 2015

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

Israel vs. Hezbollah, Spy vs. Spy

New airstrikes are only the latest chapter in the ongoing intelligence war between Israel and Hezbollah, and financial information gained in U.S. undercover operations may be playing a role as well.

Jan 19, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Hezbollah: The Party of Iran, Not Lebanon

A tactical shift by Hezbollah should not be seen as a genuine change in its ideology: it was and remains the party of Iran, not Lebanon.

Dec 3, 2014

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David Daoud

Video

Brief Analysis

The New 'Tri-Border' Region: Emerging Threats Along the Israel-Lebanon-Syria Frontier

A detailed discussion of the various factors fueling or constraining chaos on Syria's borders, including Arab tribal politics, Israeli security calculations, Iranian-Hezbollah military strategy, and a seemingly hesitant U.S.-led air campaign.

Nov 12, 2014

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Boaz Ganor
Hussain Abdul-Hussain

Brief Analysis

Hezbollah's Message for Israel

Given its recent track record of targeting Israelis, Hezbollah's decision to take public responsibility for a new border attack likely has more to do with burnishing its domestic "resistance" credentials than sending a deterrent signal to Israel.

Oct 21, 2014

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Matthew Levitt

Maps & Graphics

Articles & Testimony

ISIS Has Almost No Popular Support in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, or Lebanon

New polls show that the group has curried little favor in key countries, but the nuances behind the numbers have important implications for U.S. policy toward Syria, Iran, and other actors.

Oct 14, 2014

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

The Next Front Line in the Islamic State Onslaught

Lebanon's precarious state has worsened as ISIS beheads citizens and holds troops and police hostage.

Oct 5, 2014

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

The Druze Balancing Act

Druze communities in Syria and Lebanon cannot afford to be on the losing side of the ongoing war, and their cautious approach to local tensions reflects that imperative.

Oct 2, 2014

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Noam Raydan

Articles & Testimony

Hezbollah's Syrian Quagmire

By siding with the Assad regime and taking up arms against Sunni rebels, Hezbollah has placed itself at the epicenter of a sectarian conflict that has nothing to do with its purported raison d'etre of fighting Israel.

Sep 11, 2014

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

The Lebanese Jail That's a Jihad Incubator for the Islamic State

A prison holding hundreds of jihadists has become fruitful recruiting ground for ISIS, and a potential prisoner swap could eventually lead to ex-inmates taking leadership roles in the group.

Sep 10, 2014

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Adam Heffez
Noam Raydan

Articles & Testimony

Lebanon and the ISIS Threat

Lebanon is in grave danger of becoming the next ISIS victim, and recent clashes in Arsal were just a taste of things to come.

Aug 28, 2014

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David Daoud

Articles & Testimony

What Is Hizbullah? Domestic Aspects and International Influence

A primer on how the group has achieved its dominant position in Lebanese politics, engaged in terrorist activity worldwide, and played a major role in the Syrian war.

Aug 19, 2014

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Hariri Returns to Lebanon: The Challenges Ahead

If Hariri is to lead Lebanon out of the current morass, he will have to take a risk and stray from Beirut's well-worn path of complete acquiescence to Hezbollah.

Aug 14, 2014

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David Schenker

In-Depth Reports

Minding the Home Front:

Hezbollah in Lebanon

When Hezbollah declared its support for the Assad regime against the Syrian rebels, the group damaged its credibility as a voice against oppression. Yet Hezbollah’s recent successes in Syria have allowed it to strengthen its domestic political position. By strategically partnering with the Shiite Amal Party and the Christian Free

Aug 11, 2014

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Mona Alami

Brief Analysis

Keeping Israel's Northern Front Under Control

Although rocket fire from Lebanon and Syria remains sporadic for now, Israel and other parties need to be aware of the potential for serious miscalculation and escalation.

Jul 21, 2014

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Nadav Pollak

Brief Analysis

Hezbollah in Iraq: A Little Help Can Go a Long Way

Hezbollah's past operations in Iraq show that a limited number of experienced "consultants," working with Iran's Qods Force, could significantly increase the lethality of the local Shiite militias currently gearing up to counter the ISIS offensive.

Jun 25, 2014

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Matthew Levitt
Nadav Pollak

Articles & Testimony

Kidnapped Israeli Teens Compel Scrutiny of Hamas's International Finances

Israeli authorities have been targeting the group's financial networks in Europe and elsewhere for some time.

Jun 24, 2014

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Matthew Levitt

Q&A on Hezbollah, Iraq, Iran, and Syria

Deborah Kalb interviews Dr. Levitt on Hezbollah's potential involvement in Iraq, its commitment to Iran, and other issues.

Jun 20, 2014

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Matthew Levitt

Supported by the

Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

The Washington Institute's Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics focuses on social, political, and economic developments in the Arab world, with an emphasis on the Arab countries of the Levant.

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Matthew Levitt

Matthew Levitt is the Fromer-Wexler Senior Fellow and director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at The Washington Institute.

Hanin Ghaddar

Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute's Rubin Family Arab Politics Program, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant.

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Policy Analysis on Lebanon

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