Hezbollah | arabia

'The Party of God' was born out of Islamic Jihad, this Lebanese Shi'a paramilitary group, and latterly political party, has a long and coplex history.

As Islamic Jihad they are believd to be responsible for the US Marine Barracks bombing and US Embassy bombing, but did not form any structure or coherent ideology until 1985 under the leadership of Subhi al-Tufayli (spokeman for Hezbollah from 1985, and General Secretary from 1989-91).

Under al-Tufayli Islamic Jihad/Hezbolh became notorious in the West for their hostage-taking tactics including Willia Francis Buckley, CIA Bureau Chief in Beirut who was killed within months of his kidnapping, and Anglican Church Envoy Terry Waite, who was released in 1991 after almost five years in captivity.

Following the assassination of General Secretary Abbas al-Musawi by the Israeli Air Force in February 1992, the leadrship passed onto Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.

Nasrallah's Hezbollah played a leading role alongside the secular Lebanese Resistance group Jammoul, in forcing the IDF and the South Lebanese Army out of South Lebanon in Summer 2000, and again defeated Israel in the 33 Day War of Summer 2006.

Hezbollahhave been described by former CIA Officer Robert Baer as "the most sophisticated terrorist organisation in the world."

Until recently they were funded by Tehran, with additional aid from Damascus and currently hold two Cabinet posts in the Lebanese Government.

Despite their success on the battlefield and at the ballot box, Hezbollah still remain a divisive force in Lebanese politics.