The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Lebanon Region, commonly known as the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party in Lebanon (Arabic: حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي في لبنان Ḥizb al-Ba‘th al-‘Arabī al-Ishtirākī fī Lubnān) and officially the Lebanon Regional Branch, is a political party in Lebanon. It is the regional branch of the Damascus-based Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party. The leadership has been disputed since 2015; however, Fayez Shukr was the party leader from 2006 to 2015, when he succeeded Sayf al-Din Ghazi, who succeeded Assem Qanso.

Quick Facts Leader, Founded ...
Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Lebanon Region
حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي في لبنان
LeaderAli Hijazi
Founded1953; 71 years ago (1953)
HeadquartersBeirut
IdeologyBa'athism
National affiliationMarch 8 Alliance
International affiliationSyrian-led Ba'ath Party
ColorsBlack, Red, White and Green (Pan-Arab colors)
Parliamentary blocDevelopment and Liberation
Parliament of Lebanon
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Cabinet of Lebanon
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Party flag
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History

The Lebanese branch of the undivided Ba'ath Party was formed in 1949–1950.[1] Assem Qanso is the longest-serving secretary (leader) of the Lebanese Ba'ath Party,[2] first from 1971 to 1989 and again from 2000 to 2005.[3] In 1953 it merged with Arab Socialist Party headed by Akram Hourani, and the current title was adopted.[1] One of its secretaries general was Abdallah Al Amin, headquartered in Beirut.[1]

Lebanese Civil War

Quick Facts The Assad Battalion كتيبة الاسد, Leaders ...
The Assad Battalion
كتيبة الاسد
LeadersMuhammad Saeed Akkam (Abu Fahd)
Dates of operation1975-1991
HeadquartersWest Beirut
Active regionsLebanon
Size2,000 fighters
Part ofLebanese National Movement
Lebanese National Resistance Front
Unification and Liberation Front
Allies Al-Mourabitoun
Progressive Socialist Party (PSP)
Lebanese Communist Party (LCP)
State of Palestine Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
Syrian Army
Opponents Lebanese Front
Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Army
Internal Security Forces
Israel Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
Battles and warsLebanese Civil War (1975–1990)
Preceded by
2,000 fighters
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During the start of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, the party had an armed militia, the Assad Battalion, of some 2,000 armed men.[4] The party joined forces with Kamal Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party in organizing the Lebanese National Movement, seeking to abolish the confessional state.[5] The Lebanese National Movement was later superseded by the Lebanese National Resistance Front, in which the party participated.[5] The party organized resistance against Israeli forces in Lebanon.[5] In July 1987, it took part in forming yet another front, the Unification and Liberation Front.[5]

Post-war

In the 2009 parliamentary election, the party won two seats as part of the March 8 Alliance. The parliamentarians of the party were Assem Qanso and Qassem Hashem.[6]

The Lebanese Ba'ath Party is also militarily involved in the Syrian Civil War and has sent forces under its control to aid Bashar al-Assad's government against the Syrian opposition. One contingent, allegedly 400 fighters strong, took part in the Daraa offensive (June 2017).[7] Its commander, Hussein Ali Rabiha from Nabatieh, was killed during this operation.[8]

Before the 2018 Lebanese general election, the Lebanese Ba'ath Party had suffered a split, with Regional Secretary Assem Qanso and Numan Shalq heading in different directions.[9] Both factions had nominated candidates for the elections, but none was accepted into a list and were thus eliminated from the polls. Reportedly, the Syrian ambassador, Ali Abdul Karim, had lobbied against any list accepting Qanso's candidates, as his group is not recognized from Damascus. A Baathist politician, Kassem Hachem, was included in a list in South III as Amal candidate, but not on behalf of the party. Former Regional Secretary Fayez Shukr headed a list in Bekaa III.[10] On 7 April 2019, the Lebanese Ba'ath Party and other parties staged pro-Syrian demonstrations in Beirut; this was the "first such show of its kind" since 2005.[11]

During the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike was launched on the Lebanese Ba'ath Party headquarters in Ras el-Nabaa in Beirut which killed a Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif.[12]

Party leaders

  • Mahmoud Baydoun (1966–1969)
  • Magali Nasrawin (1969–1971)
  • Assem Qanso (1971–1989)
  • Abdallah Al Amin (1989–1993)
  • Abdallah Chahal (1993–1996)
  • Sayf al-Din Ghazi (1996–2000)
  • Assem Qanso (2000–2005)
  • Sayf al-Din Ghazi (2005–2006)
  • Fayez Shukr (2006–2015)
  • Abdul Mou'in Ghazi (2015–2016)
  • Suheil Qassar (2016)
  • Nu'man Shalaq (2016–2021)
  • Ali Hijazi (2021–present)

Legislative elections

More information Election year, # of overall votes ...
House of Representatives
Election year # of
overall votes
 % of
overall vote
# of
overall seats won
+/– Leader
1992  ???? (#6)  ???
2 / 128
Increase 2
Abdallah Al Amin
1996  ???? (#5)  ???
2 / 128
Steady 2
Abdallah Chahal
2000  ???? (#5)  ???
3 / 128
Increase 1
Sayf al-Din Ghazi
2005  ???? (#7)  ???
1 / 128
Decrease 2
Assem Qanso
2009  ???? (#7)  ???
2 / 128
Increase 1
Fayez Shukr
2018 88,268 4.72
1 / 128
Decrease 1
Disputed
2022 10,215  ???
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Steady 1
Ali Hijazi
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See also

References

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