Al-Mourabitoun
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The Independent Nasserite Movement – INM () or simply Al-Murabitoun ( lit. ''The Steadfast''), also termed variously Independent Nasserite Organization (INO) or Movement of Independent Nasserists (MIN), is a Nasserist
political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...
in
Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
.


Name

Initially, the Movement of Independent Nasserists was the name of the political organization, whilst "al-Murabitoun" designated their militia forces. However, this distinction between political and military wings became blurred over time (and the militia has been subsequently abolished), "the Sentinels", but also meaning "Guardians" or "Saviours" – carries historical Islamic connotations (see Almoravids).


Origins

Founded in 1957 at Beirut by a group of Lebanese Nasserite activists led by Ibrahim Kulaylat who opposed the pro-Western policies of President Camille Chamoun, the INM came to prominence at the height of the 1958 Civil War. The Movement’s own 2,000-strong militia, ‘The Sentinels’ (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: ''Al-Murabitun'', ''al-murabitûn'' or ''al-Mourabitoun''), clashed with the Lebanese Army and pro-government Christian militias in northern Lebanon and Beirut. Despite experiencing a temporary decline in the years immediately after the 1958 crisis, the INM remained an active force in Lebanese politics throughout the 1960s and 1970s. At the beginning of the 1970s, the Movement re-emerged as a major political faction within the Sunni Muslim community, forging alliances with other anti-establishment leftist parties such as the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) led by Kamal Jumblatt and the Lebanese Communist Party (LCP). In 1969 the INM became a member of the "Front for Progressive Parties and National Forces" (FPPNF), later reorganized in 1972 as the Lebanese National Movement (LNM). Consistent with its Pan-Arab ideals, the radical INM was a staunch advocate of the Palestinian cause in Lebanon since the late 1960s, cultivating close political and military ties with the
Palestine Liberation Organization The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO; ) is a Palestinian nationalism, Palestinian nationalist coalition that is internationally recognized as the official representative of the Palestinians, Palestinian people in both the occupied Pale ...
(PLO) in the immediate pre-war years.


Political beliefs

As its name implies, the INM espoused the ideals of the late Egyptian President,
Gamal Abdel Nasser Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein (15 January 1918 – 28 September 1970) was an Egyptian military officer and revolutionary who served as the second president of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970. Nasser led the Egyptian revolution of 1952 a ...
, a blend of
Socialism Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
and secular pan-Arab nationalism, expressed on his party slogan 'Freedom – Unity – Socialism' (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: الحرية - الوحدة - الاشتراكية , ''al-Hurriyat – al-Wahdat – al-Aishtirakia''). Being radically opposed to the Christian Maronite-dominated political order in Lebanon, the political goals of al-Murabitoun were to preserve the
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
and secular character of Lebanon and, in the long-term, establish a
socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
political and economic system.Mroueh Kerim; Sabbagh Samir.
"Lebanon is Where the US and Israel will Settle Accounts with the Palestinians"
'' in MERIP Reports, No. 77. (May 1979), pp. 12-15+26.
The INM presented itself as being pragmatic in ideological terms however, and that its doctrine was based upon a fusion between materialist
Marxist Marxism is a political philosophy and method of socioeconomic analysis. It uses a dialectical and materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to analyse class relations, social conflic ...
and liberal idealist theories.Hafez, Ziad.
Independent Nasserite Movement: Interview with Ziad Hafez
" in ''MERIP Reports'', No. 61. (October, 1977), pp. 9–14.
In 1979, leading party cadre Samir Sabbagh described the INM as particularly close to the Lebanese Communist Party (LCP).


Following

Although the INM claimed to be a secular, non-sectarian movement, its membership has always been overwhelmingly Muslim, being perceived within Lebanon as a predominantly
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
organization. During the Movement's resurgence in the early 1970s, it drew its support largely from working class’ and impoverished petty bourgeoisie Sunnis,Barbee, Lynne.
Interviews with the Lebanese National Movement: Introduction
'' in MERIP Reports, No. 61. (October, 1977), pp. 3-5.
but this did not prevent them of attracting followers from other sects. Indeed, a 1987 report used by the U.S.
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...
study on
Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
estimated the INM membership since the mid-1970s to be about 45%
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
, 45% Shia and 10%
Druze The Druze ( ; , ' or ', , '), who Endonym and exonym, call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (), are an Arabs, Arab Eastern esotericism, esoteric Religious denomination, religious group from West Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic ...
, although other unconfirmed sources present the remaining 40% as Christians. Geographically, the movement had its epicentre in the
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
areas of
Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
.


Military structure and organization

Quietly re-formed in early 1975, their "Sentinels" militia, now known as the Al-Mourabitoun Forces (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: قوات المرابطون , ''Quwwat al-Murabitun''), started with just 150–200 poorly armed militants, but it subsequently grew to 3,000–5,000 men and women drawn from the Muslim quarters of West Beirut placed under the command of Kulaylat himself. Headquartered at the Tarik al-Jadida quarter of the Corniche El-Mazraa commercial district in West Beirut, the INM/al-Mourabitoun in the early 1980s numbered some 1,000 regular fighters and 2,000 reservists secretly trained by the Palestinian factions ( Fatah, PFLP and '' As-Saiqa'') and later by
Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...
Ahmed Al-Khatib's Lebanese Arab Army. Since its foundation the militia quickly attained a 'regular' outlook, attested by the high discipline and organization of its 3,000 uniformed militiamen into conventional branches of Armor, Infantry and Artillery, backed by Medical, Signals and Military Police support units. Whilst
Druze The Druze ( ; , ' or ', , '), who Endonym and exonym, call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (), are an Arabs, Arab Eastern esotericism, esoteric Religious denomination, religious group from West Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic ...
,
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
and Shia Muslims filled the rank-and-file, its officer corps was staffed mostly by Sunnis and a few
Christians A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...
trained in
Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...
and
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
.


Units

*the "Hawks of az-Zeidaniyya" (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: صقور الزيدانية , ''Suqūr az-Zaydānīya'') *the "Maarouf Saad Units and the Determination brigade" (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: وحدات معروف سعد ولواء تقرير , ''Merouf Maeruf Wahadat wa Liwa' Taqrir'')


List of Al-Mourabitoun Forces commanders

* Ibrahim Kulaylat * Shawqi Majed


Weapons and equipment

Most of the INM/Al-Mourabitoun's own weapons and equipment were provided by the PLO, Libya, Egypt, Iraq and
Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
or pilfered from Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) barracks and Internal Security Forces (ISF) police stations. Additional weaponry, vehicles and other, non-lethal military equipments were procured in the international
black market A black market is a Secrecy, clandestine Market (economics), market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality, or is not compliant with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the set of goods and services who ...
.


Small-arms

Al-Mourabitoun militiamen were provided with a variety of small-arms, including MAS-36, Lee–Enfield SMLE Mk III, Mosin–Nagant and Mauser Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifles, MAT-49, Sa 25/26 and Crvena Zastava Automat M56 submachine guns, M2 carbines,
M1 Garand The M1 Garand or M1 rifleOfficially designated as U.S. rifle, caliber .30, M1, later simply called Rifle, Caliber .30, M1, also called US Rifle, Cal. .30, M1 is a semi-automatic rifle that was the service rifle of the United States Army, U.S. ...
(or its Italian-produced copy, the Beretta Model 1952), Beretta BM 59 and SKSEl-Assad, ''Civil Wars Volume 1: The Gun Trucks'' (2008), p. 91. semi-automatic rifles,
FN FAL The FAL (, English: Light Automatic Rifle) is a battle rifle designed in Belgium by Dieudonné Saive and manufactured by FN Herstal and others since 1953. During the Cold War the FAL was adopted by many countries of the NATO, North Atlantic Trea ...
, M16A1, Heckler & Koch G3,Katz, Russel, and Volstad, ''Armies in Lebanon'' (1985), p. 44, Plate G2. Vz. 58, AK-47 and AKM assault rifles (other variants included the Zastava M70, Chinese Type 56, Romanian Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965, Bulgarian AKK/AKKS and former East German MPi-KMS-72 assault rifles). Several models of handguns were also used, including Colt Single Action Army second generation revolvers, Tokarev TT-33, Makarov PM, CZ 75, M1911A1, FN P35 and MAB PA-15 pistols. Squad weapons consisted of DP-28, Chatellerault FM Mle 1924/29, MG 34,Kassis, ''Invasion of Lebanon 1982'' (2019), p. 199. M1918A2 BAR, Bren, AA-52, RPK, RPD,Kassis, ''Véhicules Militaires au Liban/Military Vehicles in Lebanon'' (2012), p. 47. PK/PKM,
FN MAG The FN MAG (, , ) is a Belgian 7.62 mm calibre, 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, Fabrique Nationale (FN) by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries and it h ...
and M60 light machine guns, with heavier Browning M1919A4 .30 Cal, Browning M2HB .50 Cal,Kassis, ''Véhicules Militaires au Liban/Military Vehicles in Lebanon'' (2012), p. 44. SG-43/SGM Goryunov and DShKMKassis, ''Véhicules Militaires au Liban/Military Vehicles in Lebanon'' (2012), p. 45. machine guns being employed as platoon and company weapons. Heckler & Koch G3A3 assault rifles equipped with telescopic sights were used for sniping. Grenade launchers and portable anti-tank weapons consisted of M203, M72 LAW, RPG-2 and RPG-7
rocket launchers A rocket launcher is a weapon that launches an rocket (weapon), unguided, rocket-propelled projectile. History The earliest rocket launchers documented in History of China#Ancient China, imperial China consisted of arrows modified by the a ...
, whilst crew-served and indirect fire weapons included M2 60mm mortars, 82-PM-41 82mm mortars and 120-PM-43 (M-1943) 120mm heavy mortars, plus Type 36 57mm (Chinese-produced version of the shoulder-fired US M18 recoilless rifle), Type 56 75mm (Chinese variant of the US M20 recoilless rifle), B-10 82mm, B-11 107mm and M40A1 106mm recoilless rifles (often mounted on technicals).Kassis, ''Invasion of Lebanon 1982'' (2019), p. 197.Sex & Abi-Chahine, ''Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond'' (2021), p. 191. Soviet PTRS-41 14.5mm anti-tank rifles were used for heavy sniping.


Armoured and transport vehicles

Created in February 1976, the Al-Mourabitoun's early armored corps initially fielded two obsolescent Sherman Firefly Mk Vc medium tanks, a few Charioteer tanks, M113Sex & Abi-Chahine, ''Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond'' (2021), p. 190. and Panhard M3 VTT armored personnel carriers (APC), M42 Duster SPAAGs, Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando, Panhard AML-90Kassis, ''Véhicules Militaires au Liban/Military Vehicles in Lebanon'' (2012), pp. 46-48. and Staghound armoured cars seized from the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces, backed by Gun trucks and technicals. The latter consisted of commandeered Austin Champ, US M151A1/A2, Willys M38A1 MD (or its civilian version, the Jeep CJ-5) and Kaiser M715 jeeps, GAZ-69A, Land-Rover series II-III,Sex & Abi-Chahine, ''Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond'' (2021), p. 196.Cooper & Santana, ''Lebanese Civil War Volume 1: Palestinian diaspora, Syrian and Israeli interventions, 1970-1978'' (2019), p. 55. Toyota Land Cruiser (J40),Kassis, ''30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon'' (2003), p. 66. Toyota Land Cruiser (J45),Cooper & Santana, ''Lebanese Civil War Volume 1: Palestinian diaspora, Syrian and Israeli interventions, 1970-1978'' (2019), p. 52. GMC K25 Sierra,Sex & Abi-Chahine, ''Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond'' (2021), p. 197. Chevrolet C-10/C-15 Cheyenne light pickup trucks, and Chevrolet C/K 3rd generation pickup trucks,El-Assad, ''Civil Wars Volume 1: The Gun Trucks'' (2008), p. 93. plus Mercedes-Benz Unimog 416 light trucks, GMC K1500 medium-duty trucks, GMC C4500 medium-duty trucks and ZIL-151 General purpose trucks armed with heavy machine guns, recoilless rifles and Anti-Aircraft autocannons. For logistical support, the INM militia relied on Toyota Land Cruiser (J42) hardtop, Toyota Land Cruiser (J45) and Jeep Gladiator J20 light pickups, Pinzgauer 712M light all-terrain vehicles, Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter Pickups, Chevrolet C-50 medium-duty, Dodge F600 medium-duty and GMC C4500 medium-duty trucks, and GMC C7500 heavy-duty trucks. Modified Peugeot 504 pickup trucks were used as military ambulances. Their armored corps was later expanded in October 1982 following the departure of PLO regular forces from West Beirut. INM militia forces were able to salvage a number of BRDM-2 amphibious armoured scout cars, ten
Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
-made T-34/85 medium tanks,Kassis, ''30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon'' (2003), p. 67. five BTR-152 wheeled APCs,El-Assad, ''Civil Wars Volume 1: The Gun Trucks'' (2008), p. 95.Sex & Abi-Chahine, ''Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond'' (2021), p. 193. two or three ZSU-23-4M1 Shilka SPAAG tracked vehicles and a few T-34T Armoured Recovery Vehicles. It is rumoured that the INM militia forces also captured one Magach 3 MBT from the IDF earlier in September 1982, though it remains unclear if this particular vehicle was taken into their service or was simply returned to its previous owners.


Artillery

In addition, the seizure of some ex-PLO artillery pieces, namely obsolete Soviet ZiS-2 57mm and ZiS-3 76.2mm anti-tank guns, M1938 (M-30) 122mm howitzers and Type 59-1 130mm field guns, plus towed Type 63 107mm and five truck-mounted BM-11 122mm and BM-21 Grad 122mm MBRLs which allowed them to strengthen their own artillery corps. British Bofors 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns, Yugoslav Zastava M55 20mm, Soviet ZPU (ZPU-1, ZPU-2, ZPU-4) 14.5mm and ZU-23-2 23mm AA
autocannon An autocannon, automatic cannon or machine cannon is a automatic firearm, fully automatic gun that is capable of rapid-firing large-caliber ( or more) armour-piercing, explosive or incendiary ammunition, incendiary shell (projectile), shells, ...
s (mounted on technicals, ZIL-151 trucks and M113 and BTR-152 APCs) were employed in both air defense and direct fire supporting roles. In addition to AA guns and autocannons, the INM/Al-Murabitoun received either from Syria or the PLO a number of man-portable, shoulder-launched Soviet SA-7 Grail surface-to-air (SAM) missiles, which they employed against Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter-bomber jets during the 1982 Lebanon War.


Activities and controversy

Stubborn and determined fighters, adept at employing guerrilla tactics in urban areas, the INM/al-Mourabitoun operated mainly within West Beirut, controlling by the mid-1980s the important Mahallat Abu Shaker, Wadi Abu Jamil, Hamra, Corniche El-Mazraa, Corniche El-Manara, Bashoura, Basta El-Tahta, Chyah and Ras Beirut districts and quarters. They also operated two clandestine ports located at Ouza'i district and at the Ain El-Mreisseh waterfront sector of the Lebanese capital, which were used primarily for arms-smuggling in collusion with the
Sidon Sidon ( ) or better known as Saida ( ; ) is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast in the South Governorate, Lebanon, South Governorate, of which it is the capital. Tyre, Lebanon, Tyre, t ...
-based Popular Nasserist Organization (PNO). A third illegal port located at the Karantina dock area in East Beirut was briefly held by the INM since November 1975, until being forced out by the Christian militias on January 18, 1976. Like other Lebanese factions, the INM operated its own media services. A radio station was set up in 1975, the "Voice of Arab Lebanon" (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: ''Iza'at Sawt Lubnan al-Arabi''), followed in 1982 by a television station, the "Television of Arab Lebanon" (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: ''Televizyon Lubnan al-Arabi''), their broadcasting facilities being allocated at the Mahallat Abu Shaker Party headquarters' offices near the Gamal Abdel Nasser Mosque. They also had a medical relief agency, designated the Lebanese Red Crescent Association (
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: جمعية الهلال الأحمر اللبناني , ''Jameiat al-Hilal al-Ahmar al-Lubnaniyya''), best known as ''Al-hilal'' for short.


The Al-Mourabitoun in the Lebanese Civil War


Ascendancy 1975–76

When the
Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...
broke out in April 1975, as a member of the LNM the INM/Al-Mourabitoun was an active founder of its military wing, the Joint Forces (LNM-JF). The movement claimed that was the first amongst the Lebanese "progressive" militias during the war, and by 1977 it was the largest organization within the LNM-JF, both in terms of popular support and military capacity. During the 1975-77 phase of the Lebanese Civil War, the al-Mourabitoun militia forces were heavily committed in several battles and suffered considerable casualties, especially at the Battle of the Hotels in October 1975 where they engaged Christian Kataeb Regulatory Forces and Tigers Militia fighters, and later at the 'Spring Offensive' held against East Beirut and Mount Lebanon in March 1976. They also took part on January 20 of that same year in the violent (and controversial) sieges of the Christian towns of Es-Saadiyat, Damour, and Jiyeh in the Iqlim al-Kharrub, on the side of PLO and Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) units to avenge the earlier Tel al-Zaatar massacre by the
Lebanese Front The Lebanese Front was a coalition of mainly right-wing Lebanese Nationalist parties formed in 1976 by majority Christian groups during the Lebanese Civil War. It was intended to act as a reaction force to the Lebanese National Movement (LNM) ...
militias.


Reversals 1976–82

The Syrian military intervention of June 1976 – which the INM/al-Mourabitoun initially strongly opposed, even fighting the Syrian Army at the Battle of Bhamdoun in the Aley District, but gradually came to terms with itReilly, James A.
Israel in Lebanon, 1975–82
" in ''MERIP Reports'', No. 108/109, The Lebanon War. (September–October, 1982), pp. 14–20.
– and the slow decline of the Movement's political role at the beginning of the 1980s, caused their influence within the Sunni community to wane, losing in the end its final base of support amongst the political and intellectual elites. Towards the end of the 1970s heavy casualties and their involvement in atrocities against non-Muslims caused the number of militants from other sects in the ranks to drop sharply, a situation further aggrieved by internal splits that occurred at the early 1980s. This led a significant number of prominent Sunnis – such as the jurist Walid Eido and the activist Samir Sabbagh – to leave the INM leadership board to set up their own organizations, and thereby the Movement became an exclusively Sunni Muslim force. Relations with its Lebanese coalition partners were also strained to the point of the al-Mourabitoun battling rival Nasserite parties such as the Nasserite Correctionist Movement (NCM) in November 1975 over control of the Karantina district in East Beirut, later fighting the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) factions in 1980–81 for the possession of certain West Beirut quarters. Nevertheless, the al-Mourabitoun did not lost its military capabilities, and during the June 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, they helped the PLO in the defense of the southwestern outskirts of the Lebanese Capital from IDF attacks until the end of the siege in September of that year. The 1982 Israeli Judicial inquiry into events in Beirut estimated that the strength of the al-Mourabitoun in West Beirut was 7,000 fighters.


Decline and demise 1983–88

On January 29, 1983, the Israeli-run Front for the Liberation of Lebanon from Foreigners (FLLF) detonated a car-bomb close to the Fatah HQ at Chtaura, and another in West Beirut, close to the HQ of the INM/al-Mourabitoun. Some sixty people were killed and hundreds wounded. Ibrahim Kulaylat emerged from the wreck of the LNM and the Palestinian withdrawal as the dominant Sunni leader, though he opted not to join the LNRF/ Jammoul nor the pro-Syrian LNSF alliances in the mid-1980s, and consequently the political influence of the INM/al-Murabitoun had waned significantly.Russell, Tom.
A Lebanon Primer
" in ''MERIP Reports'', No. 133. (June 1985), pp. 17–19.
The Movement initially waged its own guerrilla war at the Beirut area against Israeli forces, but later fought in a more conventional fashion at the 1983–84 Mountain War allied with the
Druze The Druze ( ; , ' or ', , '), who Endonym and exonym, call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (), are an Arabs, Arab Eastern esotericism, esoteric Religious denomination, religious group from West Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic ...
PSP/PLA, the LCP/Popular Guard and SSNP in the Chouf District against the Christian Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Lebanese Army. Later during the Coastal War in March–April 1985, the Al-Mourabitoun joined in a Syrian-backed coalition with the Popular Nasserist Organization (PNO), the Druze PSP/PLA and the Shi'ite Amal Movement, which defeated the Christian Lebanese Forces (LF) attempts to establish bridgeheads at Damour and
Sidon Sidon ( ) or better known as Saida ( ; ) is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast in the South Governorate, Lebanon, South Governorate, of which it is the capital. Tyre, Lebanon, Tyre, t ...
. This alliance was short-lived, however, and in March 1985, the Druze PSP/PLA stormed and seized the Al-Mourabitoun facilities in West Beirut, including their Party' Headquarters and their radio and television studios. When the War of the Camps broke out in April that year at West Beirut, it saw the Al-Mourabitoun allied with the PLO, the Nasserite Sixth of February Movement, the Communist Action Organization in Lebanon (OCAL), and the Kurdish Democratic Party – Lebanon (KDP-L) pitted against a powerful coalition of Shia Amal movement, pro-Syrian SSNP-L,Stork, Joe.
The War of the Camps, The War of the Hostages
" in ''MERIP Reports'', No. 133. (June 1985), pp. 3–7, 22.
the Lebanese Army, and anti- Arafat dissident Palestinian guerrilla factions of the Palestinian National Salvation Front backed by
Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
. Eventually, the al-Murabitoun was crushed after a week of brutal fighting,William E. Smith, "Lebanon: A Country's Slow Death", ''Time'', April 29, 1985, p. 46. and ceased to exist as a significant fighting force. Following its defeat, the movement lost many of its Shia foot-soldiers and members, becoming an almost exclusively Sunni Muslim militia. Deprived from its own military wing, the weakened INM went underground again for the remainder of the war and gradually withered away, forcing Ibrahim Kulaylat to flee the Country in 1986 to seek asylum in
Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
. Some remnants of the Al-Mourabitoun, however, remained at large in West Beirut, waging a fierce guerrilla war against the Syrian Army until February 1987, only to be brutally suppressed in the 1987–88 anti-militia sweeps carried out jointly by Syrian Commando troops and the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF).


The post-war years

After a long period of inactivity throughout the 1990s, the INM finally returned to the spotlight in April 2001, when they announced in a press conference held in Beirut their official comeback to Lebanese domestic politics. In 2006 it re-opened offices in Beirut, the North ( Tripoli and the Akkar), the Beqaa Valley and the South (
Jabal Amel Jabal Amil (; also spelled Jabal Amel and historically known as Jabal Amila) is a cultural and geographic region in Southern Lebanon largely associated with its long-established, predominantly Twelver Shia Muslim inhabitants. Its precise boundari ...
). The movement is still headed by Ibrahim Kulaylat.


Uniforms and insignia


See also

* Arab Socialist Union (Lebanon) * Coastal War *
Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...
* Lebanese Communist Party * Lebanese National Movement * List of weapons of the Lebanese Civil War * People's Liberation Army (Lebanon) * Popular Guard * Popular Nasserist Organization * Progressive Socialist Party * Sixth of February Movement *
Nasserism Nasserism ( ) is an Arab nationalism, Arab nationalist and Arab socialism, Arab socialist List of political ideologies, political ideology based on the thinking of Gamal Abdel Nasser, one of the two principal leaders of the Egyptian Revolution ...
* War of the Camps * 6th Infantry Brigade (Lebanon) * 8th Infantry Brigade (Lebanon)


Notes


References

* Afaf Sabeh McGowan, John Roberts, As'ad Abu Khalil, and Robert Scott Mason, ''Lebanon: a country study'', area handbook series, Headquarters, Department of the Army (DA Pam 550-24), Washington D.C. 1989.

*Beate Hamizrachi, ''The Emergence of South Lebanon Security Belt'', Praeger Publishers Inc, New York 1984. *Boutros Labaki & Khalil Abou Rjeily, ''Bilan des guerres du Liban (1975–1990)'', Collection "Comprendre le Moyen-Orient", Éditions L'Harmattan, Paris 1993. (in French language, French) * Denise Ammoun, ''Histoire du Liban contemporain: Tome 2 1943-1990'', Fayard, Paris 2005. (in French language, French)

* Edgar O'Ballance, ''Civil War in Lebanon, 1975-92'', Palgrave Macmillan, London 1998. * Farid El-Kazen, ''The Breakdown of the State in Lebanon 1967-1976'', I.B. Tauris, London 2000.

* Fawwaz Traboulsi, ''Identités et solidarités croisées dans les conflits du Liban contemporain; Chapitre 12: L'économie politique des milices: le phénomène mafieux'', Thèse de Doctorat d'Histoire – 1993, Université de Paris VIII, 2007. (in French language, French)

* Fawwaz Traboulsi, ''A History of Modern Lebanon: Second Edition'', Pluto Press, London 2012. * Paul Jureidini, R. D. McLaurin, and James Price, ''Military operations in selected Lebanese built-up areas, 1975-1978'', Aberdeen, MD: U.S. Army Human Engineering Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Technical Memorandum 11-79, June 1979. * Rex Brynen, ''Sanctuary and Survival: the PLO in Lebanon'', Boulder: Westview Press, Oxford 1990.

*
Robert Fisk Robert William Fisk (12 July 194630 October 2020) was an English writer and journalist. He was critical of United States foreign policy in the Middle East, and the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians. As an international correspo ...
, ''Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War'', London: Oxford University Press, (3rd ed. 2001).

* Marius Deeb, ''The Lebanese Civil War'', Praeger Publishers Inc, New York 1980. *Samir Makdisi and Richard Sadaka, ''The Lebanese Civil War, 1975-1990'', American University of Beirut, Institute of Financial Economics, Lecture and Working Paper Series (2003 No.3), pp. 1–53.

*Tom Najem and Roy C. Amore, ''Historical Dictionary of Lebanon'', Second Edition, Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, Boulder, New York & London 2021. , 1538120437 *Tony Badran (Barry Rubin ed.), ''Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict, and Crisis'', Palgrave Macmillan, London 2010.


Secondary sources

* Éric Micheletti, ''Autopsie de la Guerre au Liban'', RAIDS magazine No. 100, September 1994 special issue, Histoire & Collections, Paris. (in French language, French) * Leroy Thompson, ''The G3 Battle Rifle'', Weapon series 68, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2019. *Ludovic Fortin, ''T17E1 Staghound Armored Car – Le char sur roues'', Trucks & Tracks Magazine No. 5, December 2007–January 2008, Caraktère, Marseille, pp. 48–67. (in French language, French) * Moustafa El-Assad, ''Civil Wars Volume 1: The Gun Trucks'', Blue Steel books, Sidon 2008. * Naomi Joy Weinberger, ''Syrian Intervention in Lebanon: The 1975-76 Civil War'', Oxford University Press, Oxford 1986. , 0195040104 * Samer Kassis, ''30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon'', Beirut: Elite Group, 2003. * Samer Kassis, ''Véhicules Militaires au Liban/Military Vehicles in Lebanon 1975-1981'', Trebia Publishing, Chyah 2012. * Samer Kassis, ''Invasion of Lebanon 1982'', Abteilung 502, 2019.

* Samuel M. Katz, Lee E. Russel, and Ron Volstad, ''Armies in Lebanon 1982-84'', Men-at-arms series 165, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London 1985. * Steven J. Zaloga, Jim Kinnear and Peter Sarson, ''T-34-85 Medium Tank 1944-94'', New Vanguard series 20, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 1996. *Steven J. Zaloga and Peter Bull, ''Staghound armored car 1942-62'', New Vanguard series 159, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2000. * Steven J. Zaloga, ''Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2): The wars of 1973 to the present'', Concord Publications, Hong Kong 2003. *Tom Cooper & Sergio Santana, ''Lebanese Civil War Volume 1: Palestinian diaspora, Syrian and Israeli interventions, 1970-1978'', Middle East@War No. 21, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull UK 2019. *Tom Cooper & Efim Sandler, ''Lebanese Civil War Volume 2: Quiet before the Storm, 1978-1981'', Middle East@War No. 41, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull UK 2021. * William W. Harris, ''Faces of Lebanon: Sects, Wars, and Global Extensions'', Princeton Series on the Middle East, Markus Wiener Publishers, 1997. , 1-55876-115-2 *Yann Mahé, ''La Guerre Civile Libanaise, un chaos indescriptible (1975–1990)'', Trucks & Tanks Magazine No. 41, January–February 2014, Caraktère, Aix-en-Provence, pp. 78–81. (in French language, French) *Zachary Sex & Bassel Abi-Chahine, ''Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond'', Modern Conflicts Profile Guide Volume II, AK Interactive, 2021.


External links


Chamussy (René) – Chronique d'une guerre: Le Liban 1975-1977 – éd. Desclée – 1978
(in French language, French)
Al-Mourabitoun camouflage patterns
*
Magazine Al- Rassed/ Electronic edition

Nasserist Movement - Al-MourabitounAl-Mourabitoun vehicles in the Lebanese civil war
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mourabitoun Anti-Israeli sentiment in Lebanon 1957 establishments in Lebanon Arab nationalism in Lebanon Arab nationalist militant groups Factions in the Lebanese Civil War Lebanese National Movement Nasserist political parties Nationalist parties in Lebanon Political parties established in 1957 Socialist parties in Lebanon Organizations designated as terrorist by Canada Beirut in the Lebanese Civil War