hezbollah: the global footprint of lebanon’s party of god, updated edition

This book remains the most thorough examination of Hezbollah’s covert activities outside Lebanon--with a new preface and epilogue that examine recent developments

Hezbollah--which translates as ＂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 Hamas, and a terrorist organization.

Drawing on a wide range of sources--including declassified government documents, court records, and personal interviews with intelligence and law enforcement officials around the world--Hezbollah examines the party’s beginnings, its first violent forays into Lebanon, and its subsequent terrorist activities and criminal enterprises worldwide. The book describes Hezbollah’s ongoing role in Iran’s shadow war with Israel and the West. This updated edition includes a new preface and a substantive epilogue by the author to update readers on Hezbollah’s activities in recent years, particularly in supporting the Assad regime in Syria’s civil war and the latest cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel since October 7, 2023.

Levitt shows that Hezbollah’s willingness to use violence both at home and abroad, its global reach, and its proxy-patron relationship with Iran remain serious international concerns. This is an important book for scholars, policymakers, students, and the members of the general public who are interested in international security, terrorism, international criminal organizations, and Middle East studies.

Matthew Levitt, PhD, is the Fromer-Wexler Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy where he directs the Institute’s Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and previously served in various U.S. government positions at the Treasury and State Departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is the author of Hamas (2006) and Negotiating Under Fire (2008).