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Hizbullah's intelligence apparatus
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| 14 August 2006 |
Hizbullah's intelligence apparatus
The militant Lebanese group Hizbullah has an excellent intelligence capability. Various intelligence sources have told Jane's that the group which sparked a major crisis when it captured two Israeli soldiers on 12 July is deeply committed to developing its intelligence, as it believes that accurate information is an essential prerequisite for both military and political success.
Domestic intelligence
Hizbullah probably has the most effective intelligence apparatus in Lebanon. A Western intelligence official based in Beirut who asked not to be named told Jane's: "Hizbullah intelligence is strongly active in Lebanon and has infiltrated all the Lebanese factions and groups... if these factions decided to challenge them [Hizbullah], it would be a very difficult job." A senior commander with Jordan's General Intelligence Department confirmed the official's claims and added that Hizbullah's intelligence on the various Lebanese factions was better than Israel's.
The group has a 'preventative intelligence' department tasked with enforcing organisational security. This includes ensuring that members rarely use communications technology that can be monitored by Israel. It is rumoured that Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has not used a telephone since he became the group's leader in 1992. Operational units are also said to have been restructured in recent years to increase the compartmentalisation of the organisation and minimise the risk of infiltration.
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© 2006 Jane's Information Group
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