In his article "Hizbollah's Command Leadership: Its Structure, Decision-Making and Relationship with Iranian Clergy and Institutions" published in Terrorism and Political Violence, Magnus Ranstrop stated that Islamic Amal has been "subordinated organisationally within Hizbollah from 1984 onwards under the personal authority of Husayn al-Musawi" (1994).

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that "Islamic Amal became known as Hezbollah" (17 Sept. 1997) and Political Handbook of the World: 1999 adds that Islamic Amal "served as a military arm of Hezbollah" (2000, 566). Extremist Groups indicates that the group was "swallowed up by the Hizballah umbrella group sometime in the mid-1980s, and operate more as a faction of Hizballah rather than a completely independent organization" (1996, 706).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Extremist Groups. 1996. "Islamic Amal." Chicago: Office of International Criminal Justice.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 17 September 1997. "Hezbollah Poses Major Challenge on Military and Political Fronts." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World 1999. 2000. "Lebanon." Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications

Terrorism and Political Violence. Autumn 1994. Magnus Ranstrop. "Hizbollah's Command Leadership: Its Structure, Decision-Making and Relationship with Iranian Clergy and Institutions." http://www.st-and.ac.uk/academic/i.../research/cstpv/publications2c.htm [Accessed 19 july 2000]