The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2018 to 2025 Middle East
Terrorist group(s) Lebanon, in 8 editions.
The entry for Lebanon published Terrorist group(s) in 8 editions of 36, from 2018 to 2025. The text changed in 6 editions. Each is shown as published. Terrorist group(s) in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 6
- the first edition with it
- 2018
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Terrorist groups - home based” (2018 to 2019), “Terrorist groups - foreign based” (2018 to 2019) and “Terrorist group(s)” (2020 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”
- Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB):
- aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon to combat Shia Muslim influence in the country;
- seeks to disrupt Israel's economy and its efforts to establish security;
- attack Western interests in the Middle East
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south (April 2018)
- Asbat al-Ansar (AAA):
- aim(s): overthrow the Lebanese Government, rid Lebanon of Western influences, destroy the state of Israel to seize Jerusalem and, ultimately, establish an Islamic state in the Levant region
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south
note: essentially defunct, assessed to have a few dozen members as of 2017 (April 2018)
- Hizballah:
- aim(s): accrue military resources and political power and defend its position of strength in Lebanon;
- destroy the state of Israel;
- counter the West;
- provide paramilitary support to Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in Beirut with a significant presence in the Bekaa Valley and Southern Lebanon
note: remains the most capable armed group in the country, enjoying support among many Lebanese Shia and some Christians; receives considerable support from Iran (April 2018)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Lebanon: aim(s): replace the Lebanese Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia
- area(s) of operation:
- operational primarily in the east along the border with Syria; also maintains a presence in Ayn al-Hilweh refugee camp (April 2018)
Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”
- al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB):
- aim(s): bolster its recruitment presence in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem
- area(s) of operation:
- recruits youths in Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018)
- al-Nusrah Front/al-Qa'ida:
- aim(s): bolster networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate
- area(s) of operation:
- in the east in the Bekaa Valley and along the Lebanon-Syria border;
- targets Lebanese Government institutions, security forces, and Lebanese civilians (April 2018)
- Palestine Liberation Front (PLF):
- aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel to establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital
- area(s) of operation:
- maintains a recruitment and training presence in many refugee camps (April 2018)
- PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC):
- aim(s): enhance recruitment and operational networks in Lebanon
- area(s) of operation:
recruits young men living in Palestinian refugee camps, including camps in the Bekaa Valley (April 2018)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): enhance its recruitment network in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state
- area(s) of operation:
- recruits youths residing in the country's Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018)
Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB): aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon to combat Shia Muslim influence in the country; seeks to disrupt Israel's economy and its efforts to establish security; attack Western interests in the Middle East
area(s) of operation: headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south (April 2018)
Asbat al-Ansar (AAA): aim(s): overthrow the Lebanese Government, rid Lebanon of Western influences, destroy the state of Israel to seize Jerusalem and, ultimately, establish an Islamic state in the Levant region
area(s) of operation: headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south
note: essentially defunct, assessed to have a few dozen members as of 2017 (April 2018)
Hizballah: aim(s): accrue military resources and political power and defend its position of strength in Lebanon; destroy the state of Israel; counter the West; provide paramilitary support to Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime
area(s) of operation: headquartered in Beirut with a significant presence in the Bekaa Valley and Southern Lebanon
note: remains the most capable armed group in the country, enjoying support among many Lebanese Shia and some Christians; receives considerable support from Iran (April 2018)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Lebanon: aim(s): replace the Lebanese Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia
area(s) of operation: operational primarily in the east along the border with Syria; also maintains a presence in Ayn al-Hilweh refugee camp (April 2018)
al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB): aim(s): bolster its recruitment presence in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem
area(s) of operation: recruits youths in Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018)
al-Nusrah Front/al-Qa'ida: aim(s): bolster networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate
area(s) of operation: in the east in the Bekaa Valley and along the Lebanon-Syria border; targets Lebanese Government institutions, security forces, and Lebanese civilians (April 2018)
Palestine Liberation Front (PLF): aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel to establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital
area(s) of operation: maintains a recruitment and training presence in many refugee camps (April 2018)
PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC): aim(s): enhance recruitment and operational networks in Lebanon
area(s) of operation: recruits young men living in Palestinian refugee camps, including camps in the Bekaa Valley (April 2018)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): enhance its recruitment network in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state
area(s) of operation: recruits youths residing in the country's Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018)
Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”
- Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB):
- aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon to combat Shia Muslim influence in the country;
- seeks to disrupt Israel's economy and its efforts to establish security;
- attack Western interests in the Middle East
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south (2018)
- Asbat al-Ansar (AAA):
- aim(s): overthrow the Lebanese Government, rid Lebanon of Western influences, destroy the state of Israel to seize Jerusalem and, ultimately, establish an Islamic state in the Levant region
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south (2018)
- Hizballah:
- aim(s): accrue military resources and political power and defend its position of strength in Lebanon;
- destroy the state of Israel;
- counter the West;
- provide paramilitary support to Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in Beirut with a significant presence in the Bekaa Valley and Southern Lebanon
note: remains the most capable armed group in the country, enjoying support among many Lebanese Shia and some Christians; receives considerable support from Iran (2018)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Lebanon: aim(s): replace the Lebanese Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia
- area(s) of operation:
- operational primarily in the east along the border with Syria; also maintains a presence in Ayn al-Hilweh refugee camp (2018)
Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”
- al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB):
- aim(s): bolster its recruitment presence in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem
- area(s) of operation:
- recruits youths in Palestinian refugee camps (2018)
- al-Nusrah Front/al-Qa'ida:
- aim(s): bolster networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate
- area(s) of operation:
in the east in the Bekaa Valley and along the Lebanon-Syria border; targets Lebanese Government institutions, security forces, and Lebanese civilians (2018)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps -- Qods Force (IRGC-QF): aim(s): support Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement to advance Shia agenda through funding, training, and weapons area(s) of operations: Beirut, Bekaa Valley, southern Lebanon (2019)
- Palestine Liberation Front (PLF):
- aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel to establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital
- area(s) of operation:
- maintains a recruitment and training presence in many refugee camps (2018)
- PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC):
- aim(s): enhance recruitment and operational networks in Lebanon
- area(s) of operation:
recruits young men living in Palestinian refugee camps, including camps in the Bekaa Valley (2018)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): enhance its recruitment network in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state
- area(s) of operation:
- recruits youths residing in the country's Palestinian refugee camps (2018)
Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB): aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon to combat Shia Muslim influence in the country; seeks to disrupt Israel's economy and its efforts to establish security; attack Western interests in the Middle East
area(s) of operation: headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south (April 2018) (2018)
Asbat al-Ansar (AAA): aim(s): overthrow the Lebanese Government, rid Lebanon of Western influences, destroy the state of Israel to seize Jerusalem and, ultimately, establish an Islamic state in the Levant region
area(s) of operation: headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south
note: essentially defunct, assessed to have a few dozen members as of 2017 (April 2018)
Hizballah: aim(s): accrue military resources and political power and defend its position of strength in Lebanon; destroy the state of Israel; counter the West; provide paramilitary support to Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime
area(s) of operation: headquartered in Beirut with a significant presence in the Bekaa Valley and Southern Lebanon
note: remains the most capable armed group in the country, enjoying support among many Lebanese Shia and some Christians; receives considerable support from Iran (April 2018) (2018)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Lebanon: aim(s): replace the Lebanese Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia
area(s) of operation: operational primarily in the east along the border with Syria; also maintains a presence in Ayn al-Hilweh refugee camp (April 2018) (2018)
al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB): aim(s): bolster its recruitment presence in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem
area(s) of operation: recruits youths in Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018) (2018)
al-Nusrah Front/al-Qa'ida: aim(s): bolster networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate
area(s) of operation: in the east in the Bekaa Valley and along the Lebanon-Syria border; targets Lebanese Government institutions, security forces, and Lebanese civilians (April 2018) (2018)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps -- Qods Force (IRGC-QF): aim(s): support Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement to advance Shia agenda through funding, training, and weapons area(s) of operations: Beirut, Bekaa Valley, southern Lebanon (2019)
Palestine Liberation Front (PLF): aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel to establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital
area(s) of operation: maintains a recruitment and training presence in many refugee camps (April 2018) (2018)
PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC): aim(s): enhance recruitment and operational networks in Lebanon
area(s) of operation: recruits young men living in Palestinian refugee camps, including camps in the Bekaa Valley (April 2018) (2018)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): enhance its recruitment network in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state
area(s) of operation: recruits youths residing in the country's Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018) (2018)
- Abdallah Azzam Brigades;
- al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade;
- Asbat al-Ansar;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force;
- Hizballah;
- al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham);
- Palestine Liberation Front;
- PFLP-General Command;
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (2019)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Rewritten: too little of the 2019 text remains to mark the changes.
Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Hizballah; al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; PFLP-General Command; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (2019)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
- Abdallah Azzam Brigades;
- al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade;
- Asbat al-Ansar;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force;
- Hizballah;
- al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham);
- Palestine Liberation Front;
- PFLP-General Command;
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Hizballah; al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; PFLP-General Command; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (2019)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
The same text in 2022 and 2023.
- Abdallah Azzam Brigades;
- al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade;
- Asbat al-Ansar;
- HAMAS;
- Hizballah;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
- al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham);
- Palestine Liberation Front;
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP);
- PFLP-General Command
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; HAMAS; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Hizballah; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; PFLP-General Command; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
- Abdallah Azzam Brigades;
- al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade;
- Asbat al-Ansar;
- HAMAS;
- Hizballah;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
- al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham);
- Palestine Liberation Front;
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP);
- PFLP-General Command
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; HAMAS; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T the Terrorism reference guide
- Abdallah Azzam Brigades;
- al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade;
- Asbat al-Ansar;
- HAMAS;
- Hizballah;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
- Palestine Liberation Front (PLF);
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP);
- PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; HAMAS; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; Front (PLF); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
No edition has those words. Try a shorter word.
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Lebanon: Terrorist group(s).” The World Factbook, 2018–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/lebanon/terrorist-group-s.