Band of Partisans, League of the Followers, Partisans' League, Usbat al-Ansar

allegedly funded by al-Qaeda and related entities

Despite denials from the group, Asbat al-Ansar almost certainly has ties to al-Qaeda and its related entities.  Although Asbat al-Ansar is still dedicated to its goal of a Sunni Islamic state in Lebanon, many fear that the group has embraced the pan-Islamic ideals of Osama bin Laden, and is planning to extend its operations beyond Lebanon into Syria, Israel and Iraq.  Although Asbat al-Ansar is relatively small, the group can be considered very dangerous and very active.

August 23 Movement was a group that claimed responsibility for the September 1982 kidnapping of eight Israeli soldiers in Lebanon.  This attack came during the height of Lebanon's brutal civil war. <P><br /><br />The previously unknown group took its name from the date when Bashir Gemayel, a Lebanese Christian militia leader, was elected president of Lebanon.  Gemayel had allied himself with Israel during the civil war.  The group said the kidnapping was in response to "crimes" committed by Gemayel, and vowed further attacks until Israel withdrew from Lebanese territory.  <P><br /><br />In addition to the claim made by August 23 Movement, a joint statement by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and its Lebanese leftist allies, also said they had perpetrated the attack.  The PLO claim was later proven to be true, and Israel would eventually negotiate a prisoner swap with the PLO which would see thousands of Palestinian prisoners freed in exchange for the Israeli soldiers.       <br />

August 23 Movement's sole claim of responsibility for violence was proven to be false and the group was not responsible for future attacks.  As such, it is possible that the group existed in name only.  In any case, August 23 Movement, whether it existed or not, is decidedly inactive.

<a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=AS">Australia</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=GM">Germany</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=ID">Indonesia</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=JA">Japan</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=RS">Russia</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=TW">Taiwan</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=US">United States</a>