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Osbat al-Ansar

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League of the Partisans
عصبة الأنصار
Osbat al-Ansar
LeaderHisham Shreidi (1986–1991)
Ahmed Abd al-Karim al-Saadi (1991–1999)
Abu Tarek al-Saadi (1999–2023)
Dates of operation1994–present
MotivesThe creation of an Islamic state in Lebanon
Active regionsLebanon
IdeologySalafi Islamism
Jihadism
Sunni Islamism
Major actionsAssassinations, Bombings
StatusDesignated as a terrorist group by Australia, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Nations

Osbat al-Ansar or Asbat an-Ansar (Arabic: عصبة الأنصار, romanizedʿUṣbat al-ʾAnṣār, "League of the Partisans") is a Sunni fundamentalist group established in the early 1990s, with a primary base of operations in the Palestinian camp of Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near Sidon,[2] which claims professing the Salafi form of Islam and the overthrow of the Lebanese-dominated secular government.[2][3]

It has been designated as a terrorist group by the Bahrain,[4] United Nations,[5] Canada,[6] Kazakhstan,[7] Russia,[8] the UAE,[9] the United Kingdom[10] and the United States. It is on the United States' list of terrorist organizations for alleged connections with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda, and the American administration decided to freeze all assets of Osbat al-Ansar following the attacks on September 11th, 2001.[3][11] The group has reportedly received funding from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.[2]

Osbat al-Ansar is also connected with fundamentalist groups Osbat al-Nour, Jund Ash Sham, the Dinniyeh Group and Takfir wal Hijra.[2] Ahmed Abd al-Karim al-Saadi is the ostensible leader of the group; however, since he went into hiding in 1999, the group has been led by his brother Abu Tarek al-Saadi.[2] Osbat al-Ansar is estimated to have less than 2000 members, mostly Lebanese, with a primary base of operations in the Ain al-Hilwah refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon.[1]

Ideology

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According to the Australian Government and the Canadian Government the goal of Osbat al-Ansar is "the establishment of a radical Islamic state in Lebanon." as well as "Overthrowing the Lebanese government and preventing what they perceive as anti-Sunni Islamic influences in Lebanon".[12][13]

The group professes the Salafi form of Islam.[2][3]

Support

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According to Seymour Hersh, Osbat el-Ansar has received arms and supplies from Lebanese internal-security forces and militias associated with the Siniora government.[14]

Activities

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Asbat al-Ansar first emerged in the early 1990s. In the mid-1990s, the group assassinated Lebanese religious leaders and bombed nightclubs, theaters, and liquor stores. One of those assassinated was Nizar al-Halabi - leader of the Sufi Al-Ahbash - on 31 August 1995.[15] The group has also plotted against foreign diplomatic targets. In October 2004, Mahir al-Sa’di, a member of Asbat al-Ansar, was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for his 2000 plot to assassinate then-U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Satterfield. Asbat al-Ansar has no formal ties to the AQ network, but the group shares AQ's ideology and has publicly proclaimed its support for al-Qa’ida in Iraq. Members of the group have traveled to Iraq since 2005 to fight Coalition Forces. Asbat al-Ansar has been reluctant to involve itself in operations in Lebanon due in part to concerns over losing its safe haven in the Ain al-Hilwah refugee camp. AAA did not stage any known attacks in 2012.[16]

Other actions by Osbat al-Ansar

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In 2002, a representative of Osbat al-Ansar handed over Badieh Hamadeh, a Shiite living in Ain al-Hilweh suspected of killing three Lebanese soldiers, to Lebanese authorities. A spokesman for Osbat al-Ansar stated that the decision to make the hand over was to "spare the camp any bloodshed".[17]

Prevented attacks

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In 2001, Daniel Ahmad Samarji, and Bilal Ali Othman, were arrested in the northern city of Tripoli for planning terrorist acts, illegal dealing in weapons of war and discharging firearms.[18]

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Asbat al-Ansar". United States Department of State. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Federal Executive Council on 7 April 2005 Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c "Programs - The Jamestown Foundation". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Bahrain Terrorist List (Individuals – entities)".
  5. ^ "Asbat Al-Ansar". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Currently listed entities". Public Safety Canada. Government of Canada. 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  7. ^ "The list of prohibited foreign organizations in Kazakhstan | Electronic government of the Republic of Kazakhstan".
  8. ^ Единый федеральный список организаций, в том числе иностранных и международных организаций, признанных в соответствии с законодательством Российской Федерации террористическими (in Russian). 2 December 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  9. ^ "UAE publishes list of terrorist organisations". 15 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-17.
  10. ^ Terrorism Act 2000 (11, Schedule 2). 2000.
  11. ^ "IsraPundit". Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  12. ^ 7 April 2005 - Government relists six terrorist organisations - 057/2005
  13. ^ Currently listed entities Archived 2006-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Seymour M. Hersh (5 March 2007). "The Redirection". The New Yorker. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  15. ^ Middle East International No 508, 8 September 1995, Publishers Lord Mayhew, Dennis Walters MP; G.H.Jansen pp.13-14
  16. ^ Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Chapter 6; 2012, U.S. State Department, Country Reports on Terrorism
  17. ^ "BBC NEWS - Middle East - Handover ends Lebanon stand-off". 16 July 2002. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  18. ^ 'Jordan has been at war against Ben Laden for decade'