|
|
 |
| |
'Asbat al-Ansar
‘Asbat al-Ansar––the Partisans League––is a Lebanon-based Sunni extremist group. The group primarily is composed of Palestinians but is ideologically associated with al-Qa‘ida and has links to al-Qa‘ida-inspired Sunni terrorism. The group follows an extremist interpretation of Islam that justifies violence against civilian targets to achieve political ends. Some of these goals include overthrowing the Lebanese Government and thwarting perceived anti-Islamic influences in the country. ‘Asbat al-Ansar has carried out several terrorist attacks in Lebanon since it first emerged in the early 1990s. The group has publicly proclaimed its support for al-Qa‘ida in Iraq and members of the group have traveled to Iraq to fight Coalition forces. Jihadist Web sites criticized ‘Asbat for its failure to support Fatah al-Islam (FAI), another al-Qa‘ida-associated group operating in northern Lebanon, during FAI’s confrontation with the Lebanese Armed Forces in the summer of 2007. The group’s primary base of operations is the ‘Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Government outlawed ‘Asbat al-Ansar in 2002.
|
|
|
