With Lebanon’s 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 Syria’s Baa’th Party government.

Hezbollah members of the Lebanese government made their decisions to resign based on their dispute over the United Nations tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The UN was believed intent on issuing indictments against members of Hezbollah.  

Hezbollah – translated the Party of God — is a powerful terror organization in Lebanon whose membership is predominately Shia Muslim. It was initially created with the help and financial aid 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 Hezbollah’s ranks carried out a suicide bombing attack that killed 241 US Marines in Beirut, which lead to President Ronald Reagan’s withdrawal order for all US military peacekeepers.

Hatred for the Jews in Israel continues to define the Hezbollah’s political platform platform even when the last Israeli troops left Lebanon due in large part to the success of Hezbollah’s military arm, the Islamic Resistance.

Hezbollah’s popularity peaked in the 2000s, but took a dent among pro-Western 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 remains a powerful and aggressive member of Lebanon’s pro-Syrian populace. It has captured several seats during elections to the Lebanese parliament and there are several Hezbollah ministers in the government as of November 2009.

The U.S. Department of State has long listed Hezbollah as an international terrorist organization and has accused it of destabilizing Lebanon in the wake of Syria’s withdrawal of its troops from the country following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

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