Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God (Revised) - Softcover

Levitt, Matthew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1626162018 ISBN 13: 9781626162013

Publisher: Georgetown University Press, 2015

Synopsis

Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God is the first thorough examination of Hezbollah's covert activities beyond Lebanon's borders, including its financial and logistical support networks and its criminal and terrorist operations worldwide. Hezbollah -- Lebanon's "Party of God" -- is a multifaceted organization: It is a powerful political party in Lebanon, a Shia Islam religious and social movement, Lebanon's largest militia, a close ally of Iran, and a terrorist organization. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including recently declassified government documents, court records, and personal interviews with intelligence and law enforcement officials around the world, Matthew Levitt examines Hezbollah's beginnings, its first violent forays in Lebanon, and then its terrorist activities and criminal enterprises abroad in Europe, the Middle East, South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and finally in North America. Levitt also describes Hezbollah's unit dedicated to supporting Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah's involvement in training and supporting insurgents who fought US troops in post-Saddam Iraq. The book concludes with a look at Hezbollah's integral, ongoing role in Iran's shadow war with Israel and the West, including plots targeting civilians around the world. Levitt shows convincingly that Hezbollah's willingness to use violence at home and abroad, its global reach, and its proxy-patron relationship with the Iranian regime should be of serious concern. Hezbollah is an important book for scholars, policymakers, students, and the general public interested in international security, terrorism, international criminal organizations, and Middle East studies.

About this title

Review:

Levitt creatively deploys his deep knowledge coupled with the scrupulous collection, analysis, and exploitation of information and intelligence in support of his arguments against Hezbollah . . . . the result is a book imbued with invaluable insights into the inner workings, not only of Hezbollah, but also of the tactics, shortcomings and successes of the American intelligence services.

--Gamal Nkrumah "Al-Ahram Weekly "

A rich literature about Hezbollah covering its variety of operational modes. Matthew Levitt's comprehensive work contributes significantly to our understanding of one of the most dangerous and sophisticated terrorist groups in the world. Through rigorous research written in approachable, sometimes poetic language, Levitt takes us on a journey through the worldwide activities of Hezbollah . . . . The book uses varied sources, some of them available to the research community for the first time. Levitt's use of declassified CIA and FBI documents combined with exclusive interviews with senior officials of the intelligence community and decision makers from different places around the world provides us with a unique perspective on how Hezbollah's global terrorist activities are perceived by western states and governments . . . . Levitt's well-written and well-structured book reveals many attention-grabbing details that contribute to understanding Hezbollah's global operations.

--Ido Zelkovitz "Middle Eastern Studies "

Matthew Levitt's refreshing study of the history and development of Hezbollah's international network and operational track record provides a convincing profile of a highly professional group whose scope extends far beyond the confines of Lebanese politics.

--Richard Phelps, Quilliam Foundation "Terrorism and Political Violence "

A compelling account of the global terror group's operations . . . as rich in detail as it is in storytelling . . . The compelling narrative leaves readers wondering how it is possible that this organization has grown so powerful and influential with few repercussions.

--The Jerusalem Post

A meticulously detailed examination . . . The book sheds new light on the targeting of Western and Israeli interests in Lebanon and abroad.

--The Washington Times

Useful, meticulously researched and documented.

--Australia/Israel Review

If you combine the detective work of an N.C.I.S. episode and the excitement of a Daniel Silva novel with the Mission Impossible theme in the background, you can approximate the narrative provided in this important book.

--Jewish Book Council

Levitt's coverage of Hezbollah's illegal and criminal operations on American soil mightily increases the value of this useful, well-written book.

--Choice

A wide-ranging portrait of Hezbollah's activities on five continents and its actions.

--Library Journal

A 426 page compendium providing the non-specialist general reader with an excellent and documented history of this Islamic militant organization and its present activities throughout the world. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index . . . especially recommended for both community and academic library International Studies in general, and Terrorism Studies in particular.

--Midwest Book Review

About the Author:

Matthew Levitt is the Fromer-Wexler fellow and director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Previously, Levitt served as the deputy assistant secretary for intelligence and analysis at the US Department of the Treasury, as an FBI counterterrorism analyst, and as an adviser on counterterrorism to the US State Department. He is the author of Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad.

About this edition

• Publisher: Georgetown University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1626162018
• ISBN 13: 9781626162013
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 424