NAME: ‘Asbat al-Ansar (The Partisans’ League)
DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: Early 1990s.
GOALS: Overthrow the Lebanese government and thwart anti-Islamic influences in Lebanon.
MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.
STRENGTH: About 300 fighters.
OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Primary base of operations is the ‘Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon.
AFFILIATIONS: Overseas Sunni extremist networks and Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda.
COMMENTS: A Lebanon-based group composed mainly of Palestinians, Asbat al-Ansar adheres to an extremist interpretation of Islam and justifies the use of violence against civilian targets. The group raised its profile in 2000 with a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Russian Embassy in Beirut. It was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on March 27, 2002.
DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: Early 1990s.
GOALS: Overthrow the Lebanese government and thwart anti-Islamic influences in Lebanon.
MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.
STRENGTH: About 300 fighters.
OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Primary base of operations is the ‘Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon.
AFFILIATIONS: Overseas Sunni extremist networks and Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda.
COMMENTS: A Lebanon-based group composed mainly of Palestinians, Asbat al-Ansar adheres to an extremist interpretation of Islam and justifies the use of violence against civilian targets. The group raised its profile in 2000 with a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Russian Embassy in Beirut. It was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on March 27, 2002.