Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Until the attacks of September 11, 2001, Hezbollah was the deadliest anti-American terrorist organziation on the planet. In October 1983, the group killed 241 U.S. Marines and 58 French paratroopers in a massive suicide bombing in Beirut, and it is rumored to have been involved in the Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 U.S. Air Force personnel in Saudi Arabia in June 1996.

Until the attacks of September 11, 2001, Hezbollah was the deadliest anti-American terrorist organziation on the planet. In October 1983, the group killed 241 U.S. Marines and 58 French paratroopers in a massive suicide bombing in Beirut, and it is rumored to have been involved in the Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 U.S. Air Force personnel in Saudi Arabia in June 1996.

Today, the group maintains a fearsome presence in southern Lebanon, positions in the Lebanese cabinet, and tentacles to advance Iranian foreign policy and financial interests as far afield as Latin America.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies focuses on these developments through its work on Iran and Lebanon, and its writing on Middle Eastern political affairs more broadly. The work involves FDD Executive Director Mark Dubowitz, senior fellow Emanuele Ottolenghi, fellow Benjamin Weinthal, vice president of research Jonathan Schanzer, and senior fellows Reuel Marc Gerecht and John Hannah.