AN ANALYSIS OF HEZBOLLAH’S USE OF IRREGULAR WARFARE

[Pages:112]AN ANALYSIS OF HEZBOLLAH'S USE OF IRREGULAR WARFARE

STEPHEN KEITH MULHERN Intelligence and National Security Studies Program

APPROVED: Larry A. Valero, Ph.D., Chair Charles R. Boehmer, Ph.D. William T. Dean, III, Ph.D.

Benjamin C. Flores, Ph.D. Dean of the Graduate School

Copyright ?

by Stephen Keith Mulhern

2012

Dedication

To Mom and Dad, Thank you.

AN ANALYSIS OF HEZBOLLAH'S USE OF IRREGULAR WARFARE

by STEPHEN KEITH MULHERN, B.A. Political Science

THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of

The University of Texas at El Paso in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Intelligence and National Security Studies Program THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO December 2012

Acknowledgements I would like to thank: Drs. Larry Valero, Charles Boehmer, and William Dean for taking the time to be part of this

thesis. Lisa Tomaka, Nicholas Komorowski, and Dr. Dennis Soden for giving me a productive and

supportive workplace. And my parents, Michael and Linda Mulhern, for giving me the parental support to finish this

work.

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Abstract Low-intensity conflicts and insurgencies have been on the rise since the end of World War II. A particularly strong example of these conflicts is the ongoing conflict between the Lebanese Hezbollah and the state of Israel. In the course of the conflict, Hezbollah was able to accomplish what other, more powerful Arab states could not; Hezbollah forced Israel to unilaterally end a conflict. How did Hezbollah accomplish this? This thesis will provide a qualitative analysis of Hezbollah's use of the instruments of power in their irregular warfare strategy against Israel during the occupation of southern Lebanon.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................................v

Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vii

List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. ix

List of Illustrations ...........................................................................................................................x

Section 1:Introduction......................................................................................................................1 1.1 Literature Review...........................................................................................................6 1.1.1 Hezbollah ....................................................................................................................7 1.1.1.2 Islam..........................................................................................................................7 1.1.1.3 Wali al-Faqih ...........................................................................................................8 1.1.1.4 Jihad .......................................................................................................................11 1.1.1.4.1 Greater Jihad ........................................................................................................11 1.1.1.4.2 Lesser Jihad..........................................................................................................12 1.2 Hybrid Warfare ............................................................................................................16 1.3 Instruments of Power ...................................................................................................19 1.4 Irregular Warfare .........................................................................................................23 1.5 Research Design and Strategy .....................................................................................30

Section 2: Diplomacy.....................................................................................................................34 2.1 Indicator 1: International Pressue on Israel .................................................................34 2.2 Indicator 2: Status as Violent Non-State Actor............................................................35 2.2 Indicator 3: Lack of International Pressure on Hezbollah ...........................................37

Section 3: Information ...................................................................................................................40 3.1 Indicator 4: Propaganda ...............................................................................................41 3.2 Indicator 5: Maintenance of a Large Recruitment Pool...............................................46 3.3 Indicator 6: Provision of Social Services .....................................................................50

Section 4: Military .........................................................................................................................54 4.1 Indicator 7: Military Armament...................................................................................54 4.2 Indicator 8: Operations and Tactics .............................................................................58 4.2.1 Operational Doctrine....................................................................................................60 vii

4.2.2 Unit Organization and Operational Security................................................................61 4.2.3 The "Rules of the Game" .............................................................................................62 4.2.4 Martyrdom Operations.................................................................................................64 4.2.5 Kidnappings .................................................................................................................65 4.2.6 The 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War...................................................................................66 4.3 Indicator 9: Safe Haven ...............................................................................................71 Section 5: Economics.....................................................................................................................79 5.1 Indicator 10: Legal/Illegal Sources of Income.............................................................79 5.1.1 Legal ............................................................................................................................79 5.1.1.1 Charitable Fundraising..............................................................................................79 5.1.1.2 Zakat .........................................................................................................................80 5.1.2 Illegal ...........................................................................................................................80 5.1.2.1 Shakedowns ..............................................................................................................80 5.1.2.2 Criminal Activity ......................................................................................................81 5.2 Indicator 11: State Sponsorship ...................................................................................82 5.3 Indicator 12: Shi'a Diaspora Donations.......................................................................83 Section 6: Conclusion ....................................................................................................................84 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................89 Vita................. .........................................................................................................................102

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