After Moussa el Sadr rise and his sudden dissapearance, two main Shiites groups were formed and are still representing the majority of the Shiite community nowadays, Amal Movement & The Party of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is today the most powerful and most popular Shiite party and has attracted more partisans cause of its ideological beliefs and its resistance against Israel, mainly its famous ‘victory’ in 2001 after Israel withdrew from the South.

Hezbollah first appeared after a split happened within the ‘Ma7roumeen’ movement, mainly after Berri refused to bow to Iranian orders, while Hezbollah stayed in the same line Sadr was.

Hezbollah was founded in 1982 after its breakup from Amal and its first secretary general was Sobhi el Toufeili. The party’s logo is inspired from the Islamic Revolution.

Its relation with Iran is a very strong one, and as the spiritual leader of Hezbollah, Mhammad Hussein Fadlallah quotes: “The Relation of the party with Iranian leaders is strong .. and our vision is in harmony with the Iranian though … and we are on the same political path ..”

Iran has always trained the party, mainly in Baalbeck and in Zabdani and in several unrevealed spots in the South, and Toufeily admitted that fact in 1982.

The Financial help Hezbollah gets from Iran is approximated to 5 million a month and some even say it could reach the 12 millions. Syria’s help to the party was mainly weapons and explosives.

Additionally to the money sent from Iran, special units from the Iran Revolutionary Army (Badestran) were sent to train and supervise the party militants. The party is a very loyal ally of Syria and refused its withdrawal from Lebanon and still does even till now .

Hezbollah since the 80s has been involved in several terrorist acts in and outside Lebanon.
He is accused of the bombing that hit a jewish center in Argentina in 1994, of trying to assasinate Sheikh Jaber el Sabba7 and hijacking several planes, as well as the bombing against the American Embassy of Beirut and the 1983 bombing against the US Marines.

Lately, 14th of march team pointed fingers at Hezbollah’s involvement in the Bombings that have been going on for 2 years now killing several Anti-Syrian politicians and journalists.

In summary, Hezbollah that started as an armed Islamic Revolution, became an Islamic Resistance few years ago and used its war against Israel as a cover up for its political goals that are showing clearly day after day, through threats of toppling the government and taking over the country by force.

Hezbollah has been covered massively in this blog, you can find tens of posts by simply searching the name, here are some recommended readings:

How Hezbollah Destroyed Lebanon

The Shameful victory of Hezbollah

Shiites of Lebanon .. What exactly do you want ?

Hezbollah Tactics

Here is a debate led on the Official LF forum on the Hezbollah weapons: