Asbat-al-Ansar

Asbat-al-Ansar is a Lebanon-based a Sunni extremist group that is principally composed of Palestinians who have links to Osama bin Laden al-Qaida organization along with the other Sunni extremist groups. The founder of the group was a Palestinian refugee as well as preacher Sheik Hisham Sheridan, who died in the year 1991 after an attack by their rival’s al-Fatah. Estimations indicate that the group has a membership of between 100 and 2000 fighters. Most of the funding that the group receives is through the international Sunni extremist networks (Chalk, 2012). Additionally, there are numerous security agencies who believe that the group has a strong link with al-Qaida, from whom they have been receiving significant funding. The group traditionally targets the Lebanese state along with the elements of the foreign influence that are within the country.

The group has previously been involved in a failed assassination attempts including one on the American ambassador, Ukrainian consulate general, the Italian embassy along with the Lebanese government offices.  The group used to rocket attacks on the Russian embassy as well as on the Hariri affiliated Future TV in Beirut (Chalk, 2012). One major US target that Asbat-al-Ansar could consider valuable is the US embassy in Lebanon and the consequent ambassador along with the American citizen working at the embassy. The US has been one of the major supporters of the Lebanese government fights against the extremists groups in the region with Asbat-al-Ansar being of the targets. Considering that the group has a considerable dominance in the country as well as the fact that it is the only target that Asbat-al-Ansar can organize attacks due to the proximity, the embassy is their easiest target for any possible attack (Gleis & Berti, 2012).

Asbat-al-Ansar would find the target valuable for some reasons. One of the reasons is the fact that the US has been a major supporter of the country’s war against Asbat-al-Ansar, whereby the group has suffered major casualties. Thus attacking the embassy would be a good way for the group to attain revenge for the attacks. Additionally, it could attack the embassy as a strategy to deter any other country that wishes to destabilize the group’s influence in the region. The fact that the embassy is well protected implies that the group can only attack from far if they do not want to suffer heavy casualties. Thus, it would involve the use of rocket attacks on the embassy (Paul, n.d).  The additional strategy that the groups could use is using suicide bombers to carry explosive on successful turns to breach the security barrier at the embassy.

One countermeasure that the US could use is setting a barrier around the embassy that would make it hard if not impossible for Asbat-al-Ansar to attack without being seeing. Establishing a buffer zone whereby no building can be built around the embassy will assist in reducing the likelihood that the groups will attack. Recruiting spies to infiltrate the group and inform on all the activities the grouse wants to undertake will be vital in ensuring that the embassy is well prepared for the event that there is an imminent attack (Hunsicker, 2008). Additionally, reinforcing the barrier around the embassy and deploying more security officers to man the perimeter around the clock is an exceptional strategy of averting any possible attack before it happens.        

The recovery strategy will involve the diverse department in the homeland security working together to address the situation and consequently ensure that all the operations resume within the shortest duration possible. It will start with the secretary sanctioning the executive secretary and the military advisor to a crisis meeting. In this meeting, there will be the activation of the directorate of national protection and programs, chief financial officer, a federal emergency unit as well as the transportation security administration. These departments will work together to ensure that all the officials in the embassy are rescued and accounted for. They will additionally work to ensure that the embassy activates an alternative are that the critical operations continue taking place. Funds to hire additional staff if needed will additionally be availed in addition to ensuring that the injured and traumatized individuals are transported back home (Powne, 2006). The departments will be involved in the development of a caretaker management system in Lebanon to guarantee that there will be no disruption in the flow of operations in the alternative areas that have been activated.

Conclusion

Asbat-al-Ansar as one of the FTO poses major threats to the residents of Lebanon as well as interests of the US in the regions. The continued funding additionally offers them the backing they need to continue reigning havoc in the regions along with the interest of the foreign powers in the country. It is thus imperative that the assessment of the Asbat-al-Ansar encompasses the assessment of the specific sources of funds and ensuring that these channels are obliterated as it is the only way to ensure that they cannot recruit new members.

References

Chalk, P. (2012). Encyclopedia of Terrorism [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO

Gleis , T. Berti, B. (2012). Hezbollah and Hamas: A Comparative Study. JHU Press

Hunsicker , A. (2008). Understanding International Counter Terrorism. Universal-Publishers

Paul, L. (n.d). U.S. goes after 3 more terror groups' assets. USA Today,

Powne, D. (2006). Critical Infrastructure Protection: Department of Homeland Security. DIANE Publishing.

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