Details of the organisation
The Hizballah Context
Hizballah is a pragmatic political
organisation with deep roots in Lebanese society. Founded in 1982 with Iranian
assistance during the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, Hizballah evolved into a multi-faceted
organisation including political, social and military components supported by Iran and Syria.
Within Lebanon, Hizballah represents the
Lebanese Shia community, the country’s largest sect, and maintains a social
welfare network that encompasses education and health services. Currently, it
has two ministerial portfolios and constitutes an integral part of the ruling
March 8 coalition.
As a fully-fledged political organisation, Hizballah engages
with numerous international organisations and governments. For example,
Hizballah liaises with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in
the context of the management of the cease-fire in southern Lebanon.
Hizballah also maintains a highly capable
and well-resourced militia structured ostensibly to resist Israeli aggression,
but also to defend and promote Shia interests in the context of Lebanon’s historical and ongoing sectarian divisions. In 2006 it fought against the Israeli
Defence Force and since then has been arming itself in preparation for future
conflict. Hizballah receives training, funding and military equipment from Iran and Syria and is a highly sophisticated military actor.
The ESO Objectives
The External Security Organisation is a
discrete branch within Lebanese Hizballah responsible for the planning,
coordination and execution of terrorist attacks against Hizballah’s enemies
outside of Lebanon. Since entering the Lebanese Parliament in 1992 and
the Government in 1995, Hizballah has sought to strengthen its public image as
a respected resistance movement and lessen its reputation as a terrorist
group. This has seen the ESO operate independently of the parent body and
become one of the best organised terrorist groups in the world.
The ESO was set up by Imad Mughniyah, who
has been described variously as the head of Hizballah’s security section, a
senior intelligence official and as one of the founders of Hizballah. After
Imad Mughniyah fled to Iran following Hizballah’s 1983 attack on the US military in Beirut, the ‘international wing’ grew out of the military wing to become a separate
branch under Mughniyah’s control. This is thought to be the genesis of
Hizballah's 'international wing', or the ESO.
The ESO was led by Mughniyah until his
assassination in Damascus in 2008. There have been no major acts of terrorism
specifically attributed to the ESO since 1994. Nevertheless, Hizballah has
vowed to retaliate against Israel for Israel’s perceived role in Mughniyah’s
assassination. The ESO is likely to be responsible for planning future
terrorist attacks against Israeli interests to this end.
Leadership and Membership
Little is known about the current structure
or membership of the ESO. It remains a covert and highly secretive organisation
that has been successful in restricting information about its organisational
structure and membership. Its current leader is Talal Hamiyah.
Terrorist activity of the organisation
Directly or indirectly engaged in the
doing of terrorist acts
Neither Hizballah nor the ESO have
publically admitted responsibility for any terrorist attacks outside Lebanon. Nevertheless, the ESO is widely considered responsible for at least two major
attacks against Israeli/Jewish interests outside of Lebanon in the early
1990s: the attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992, and the
attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AIMA) in Buenos Aires in 1994.
·
On 17 March 1992, a truck laden with explosives
was used to destroy the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aries, Argentina. 29 people were killed, and 242 injured. Although Hizballah denied involvement,
responsibility for the attack was claimed in the name of the Islamic Jihad
Organisation, which cited its motive as revenge for Israel’s assassination of
Hizballah Secretary-General Abbas al-Musawi in February of that year. The
Islamic Jihad Organisation is widely considered to be synonymous with the ESO.
Argentinean authorities eventually issued an arrest warrant for then ESO leader
Mughniyah for organising the attack.
·
On 18 July 1994, a van carrying explosives was
detonated outside the AIMA, killing 85 people and injuring more than 300. In
1999, Argentine authorities issued an arrest warrant for Mughniyeh for his
alleged involvement. No group claimed responsibility for the attack and
Hizballah has repeatedly denied accusations that it conducted the attack.
However, the Argentinean authorities concluded that ESO was responsible.
Directly or indirectly preparing and/or planning terrorist acts
In January 2012 Thai authorities announced
the arrest in Bangkok of an individual allegedly linked to Hizballah and in
possession of explosive precursors. The individual denied being connected to
Hizballah and it remains uncertain whether the explosive materials were
intended for use in Thailand or for shipment elsewhere. Nonetheless, any Hizballah
connection almost certainly would be through the ESO and points to ESO’s
on-going interest in, and preparations for, terrorist activities outside Lebanon.
In addition, in 2008 alleged ESO operative
Ali Karaki was arrested in Baku, Azerbaijan, and charged with plotting to bomb
the Israeli Embassy.
Directly or indirectly assisting in the
doing of terrorist acts
Hizballah elements provide training,
operational support and material to Palestinian extremist groups, including the
Palestinian Islamic Jihad and HAMAS’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, both of
which are proscribed entities, and Shia militia elements in Iraq. Although these activities are undertaken by units within Hizballah specifically created for
these tasks, elements of the ESO are likely involved.
Conclusion
Due to the secretive nature of the ESO, it
is difficult to gather detailed information about the group’s role and
activities. However, there is no indication that the ESO’s role has changed in
recent times, and considering Hizballah’s stated desire to avenge the death of
Imad Mughniyah, and the recent arrest of a probable Hizballah operative in Bangkok, it is likely that the ESO retains its separate terrorist function within
Hizballah’s overall organisational structure.
On the basis of the above information, ASIO
assesses the ESO continues to directly and/or indirectly engage in conducting,
preparing, planning, assisting, advocating or fostering the doing of terrorist
acts, involving threats to life and serious property damage. This assessment is
corroborated by information provided by reliable and credible intelligence
sources.
In the course of pursuing its objectives
the ESO is known to have committed or threatened action:
- that causes, or could cause,
serious damage to property, the death of persons or endanger a person’s
life;
- with the intention of
advancing Hizballah’s political, religious or ideological causes; and
- with the intention of
intimidating the global public and sections of the global public.
Other Relevant Information
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have listed Hizballah’s ESO as a terrorist organisation under ‘Hizballah’s
Military Wing’. Hizballah as a whole (including ESO) has been listed as a
terrorist organisation by the governments of the United States and Canada.