Islamic Group (Lebanon) Explained

Islamic Group
Native Name:الجماعة الإسلامية
Leader:Azzam Al-Ayyoubi
Abbreviation:JI
Founder:Faysal Mawlawi, Fathi Yakan
Native Name Lang:ar
Ideology:Sunni Islamism
Pan-Islamism
Social conservatism
Anti-Zionism
Position:Centre-right to right-wing
Wing1 Title:Armed wing
Wing1:Al-Fajr Forces
International:Muslim Brotherhood
Country:Lebanon
Religion:Sunni Islam
Headquarters:Beirut
Seats1 Title:Parliament of Lebanon
Website:Official Site

The Islamic Group (Arabic: الجماعة الإسلامية |rtl=yes Arabic: Al-Jama'ah Al-Islamiyah) is a Sunni Islamist political party in Lebanon. Jamaa Islamiya was founded in 1964 as the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. In fact, it was established by young members of 'Ibad al Rahman (or the Worshipers of the Merciful). Its origins, as documented by Nizar Hamzeh, go back to the height of Gamal Abdel Nasser's efforts at Arab unity in the mid-1960s.[1] It supports the idea of establishing a legal order in Lebanon that is based on Islamic shari'a. As a local branch it closely follows the doctrines of the Muslim Brotherhood.[1] Fathi Yakan was the group's grandfather and main ideologue who is a veteran Islamist scholar and preacher from Tripoli.[1]

Its ex-leader is Ibrahim Al-Masri, who succeeded its former leader Faisal Mawlawi due to sickness. The party entered the 2009 Lebanese general election beside the Future Movement in Beirut's 3rd electoral district. Currently they have 1 seat in the Lebanese Parliament.[2] [3] [4]

Military wing

The Islamic Group's armed wing, the al-Fajr Forces, launched missiles into Israel during the 2023 Israel-Lebanon border clashes,[5] [6] [7] in what The National called a "resurgence... after almost 20 years of relative inactivity."[8] Bassem Hammoud, the deputy head of the Islamic Group's political bureau, clarified that his party was "not in complete alignment with Hezbollah... [b]ut we are with them in terms of resistance against Israel."[8] On 10 March 2024, three members of the Islamic Group were killed after an Israeli strike on the town of Aqroub.[9] On April 26, an Israeli drone strike on a car in Meidoun killed two Islamic Group members, including senior commander Mosab Khalaf.[10] [11] On 18 July 2024, an IDF strike on a car in Ghazzeh, eastern Lebanon killed Mohammad Hamed Gebara, an Islamic Group commander who planned and conducted attacks in collaboration with Hamas.[12]

Media

In 2008, members of the Islamic Group formed al Fajr Radio which offers educational and religious programs. It is equally shared by multiple members of the party.[13]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Saab. Bilal Y.. Magnus Ranstorp. Securing Lebanon from the Threat of Salafist Jihadism. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 2007. 30. 10. 825–855. 1 July 2012. 10.1080/10576100701561236. 110251115. 29 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120729195658/http://www.democracyinlebanon.org/Documents/CDL-World/SalafistJihadism(SaabandRanstorp07).pdf. live.
  2. A. Nizar Hamzeh "Islamism in Lebanon: A Guide to the Groups", Middle East Quarterly, 1997, 4, pp. 47-53.
  3. Kamal Shayya, Rania Sabaayon, Ghassan Makarem, Makram Kamel, Mustafa Hazim "Islamic Movements in Lebanon", Masar Association, Aِugust 2009.
  4. Gary C. Gambill "ISLAMIST GROUPS IN LEBANON", Middle East Review of International Affairs, 2007, 11.
  5. Web site: "قوات الفجر": وجهنا ضربة صاروخية استهدفت مواقع العدو في الأراضي المحتلة وحققت إصابات مباشرة. 2023-10-18. 2023-11-12. Al-Manar TV. 2023-11-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20231112235904/https://www.almanar.com.lb/11082249. live.
  6. Web site: رئيس المكتب السياسي للجماعة الإسلامية في لبنان: أعددنا العدة للمعركة مع الاحتلال. 2023-11-12. Quds News Network. 2023-11-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20231113093411/https://qudsn.co/post/201009. live.
  7. Web site: Iran Update, November 5, 2023. 2023-11-05. 2023-11-12. Institute for the Study of War. 2023-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20231114103538/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-november-5-2023. live.
  8. Web site: ‘We're with the resistance’: Hezbollah allies the Fajr Forces join Lebanon-Israel front. 2023-11-12. The National. 2023-10-31. Nada Homsi. 2023-11-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20231112235901/https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/lebanon/2023/10/30/fajr-forces-hezbollah-lebanon-israel/. live.
  9. Web site: 'الجماعة الإسلامية' في لبنان تنعى 3 شهداء . 2024-03-10 . MTV Lebanon . ar . 2024-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715031515/https://www.mtv.com.lb/news/%D9%85%D9%80%D9%80%D8%AD%D9%80%D9%80%D9%84%D9%80%D9%80%D9%8A%D9%80%D9%80%D8%A7%D8%AA/1430833/-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9--%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%89-3-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1 . live .
  10. Web site: 2024-04-26 . IDF kills senior commander of Jama'ah terror group in Lebanon . 2024-04-26 . The Jerusalem Post . en . 2024-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240426174843/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-798824 . live .
  11. News: 26 April 2024 . Hezbollah fires 30 rockets at north after IDF drone strike kills allied terrorists . 27 April 2024 . The Times of Israel . 27 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240427014821/https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-fires-30-rockets-at-north-after-idf-drone-strike-kills-allied-terrorists/amp/ . live .
  12. News: Adi . Hadar . Zitun . Yoav . 2024-07-18 . Watch: Senior Islamic Group commander killed in southern Lebanon airstrike . 2024-07-18 . Ynetnews . en.
  13. Web site: Fajr Radio . 2024-07-20 . lebanon.mom-gmr.org . en.

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