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Islamic Group (Lebanon)

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Islamic Group
الجماعة الإسلامية
AbbreviationJI
LeaderAzzam Al-Ayyoubi
FounderFaysal Mawlawi, Fathi Yakan
Founded1964; 60 years ago (1964)
HeadquartersBeirut
Armed wingAl-Fajr Forces
IdeologySunni Islamism
Pan-Islamism
Social conservatism
Anti-Zionism
Political positionCentre-right to right-wing
ReligionSunni Islam
International affiliationMuslim Brotherhood
Parliament of Lebanon
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Website
Official Site

The Islamic Group (Arabic: الجماعة الإسلامية 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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Saab, Bilal Y.; Magnus Ranstorp (2007). "Securing Lebanon from the Threat of Salafist Jihadism" (PDF). Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 30 (10): 825–855. doi:10.1080/10576100701561236. S2CID 110251115. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  2. ^ A. Nizar Hamzeh "Islamism in Lebanon: A Guide to the Groups" Archived 2013-02-08 at the Wayback Machine, Middle East Quarterly, 1997, 4, pp. 47-53.
  3. ^ Kamal Shayya, Rania Sabaayon, Ghassan Makarem, Makram Kamel, Mustafa Hazim "Islamic Movements in Lebanon" Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, Masar Association, Aِugust 2009.
  4. ^ Gary C. Gambill "ISLAMIST GROUPS IN LEBANON" Archived 2012-04-06 at the Wayback Machine, Middle East Review of International Affairs, 2007, 11.
  5. ^ ""قوات الفجر": وجهنا ضربة صاروخية استهدفت مواقع العدو في الأراضي المحتلة وحققت إصابات مباشرة". Al-Manar TV. 2023-10-18. Archived from the original on 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  6. ^ "رئيس المكتب السياسي للجماعة الإسلامية في لبنان: أعددنا العدة للمعركة مع الاحتلال". Quds News Network. Archived from the original on 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  7. ^ "Iran Update, November 5, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 2023-11-05. Archived from the original on 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  8. ^ a b Nada Homsi (2023-10-31). "'We're with the resistance': Hezbollah allies the Fajr Forces join Lebanon-Israel front". The National. Archived from the original on 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  9. ^ "'الجماعة الإسلامية' في لبنان تنعى 3 شهداء". MTV Lebanon (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  10. ^ "IDF kills senior commander of Jama'ah terror group in Lebanon". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-04-26. Archived from the original on 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  11. ^ "Hezbollah fires 30 rockets at north after IDF drone strike kills allied terrorists". The Times of Israel. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  12. ^ Adi, Hadar; Zitun, Yoav (2024-07-18). "Watch: Senior Islamic Group commander killed in southern Lebanon airstrike". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  13. ^ "Fajr Radio". lebanon.mom-gmr.org. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
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