The principal Shi'ite militias in Lebanon are Amal and Hezbollah. Amal has been aligned with Syria since the mid-eighties, and Hezbollah has tended to be pro-Iranian. Other smaller Shi'ite groups have also surfaced over the past decade, but it is believed that many of the extremist Shi'ite groups claiming responsibility for hijackings, kidnappings, and bombings are answerable to Hezbollah. The Sunni Muslims have also been divided into pro- and anti-Syrian camps. Please refer to background information on Lebanese militias from Henry Degenhardt, (ed., Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, London: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1988).
Mourabitoun:

West Beirut, particularly the southern part, has traditionally been a Shi'ite (Amal) stronghold. The Nasserist (Sunni) Mourabitoun militia helped defend West Beirut during the Israeli invasion in 1982. [ David McDowall, Lebanon: A Conflict of Minorities, Minority Rights Group, No. 61, p. 15.] When the Israeli forces moved into West Beirut, they brought the Christian Phalangist (Kata'ib)-Lebanese Forces with them. Following the massacre of Palestinian refugees in Sabra and Chatila by Lebanese militias friendly to Israel, the United States ordered the Israelis out of West Beirut. [ Ibid.,
p. 16.] During 1984, the Shi'ite forces of Nabi Berri grew stronger, and Amal began to gain power over Mourabitoun. [George Delury, World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties, (Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1984), pp. 673-674.] The influence of Mourabitoun has declined in recent years, having suffered defeats in 1984, 1985, and 1986 at the hands of Druze and Amal militias. [ See the attached information from Henry Degenhardt, Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, London: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1988, p. 218.]

The Mourabitoun allied itself with Amal and Druze militias at different times during the 1980s. It was driven out of positions along the Green Line in Beirut by Druze forces in March 1984, but fought with Palestinians, Amal and Druze militias against the Christian Lebanese Forces under the command of Samir Geagea in Sidon in March 1985. [ Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXI, June 1985, p. 33688; Henry Degenhardt, Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, London: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1988, p. 218.] Mourabitoun and pro-Arafat Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters clashed with Amal in Beirut in April 1985, and in November 1985, Mourabitoun sided with Druze PSP fighters against Amal. [Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXII, January 1986, p. 34132.] Amal gained control of West Beirut from Mourabitoun in the 1985 conflicts. [ Amnesty International, Report 1987, (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1987), p. 358.] No information on executions of Mourabitoun during 1985 is currently available to the IRBDC, however, Amnesty International reported that Amal held hundreds of Palestinians and members of Mourabitoun in detention during 1986, [ Report 1987, p. 358.] and the attached Amnesty International reports for 1986 and 1987 allude to torture and execution of prisoners by Amal and other militias.

On 3 June 1986, Mourabitoun militiamen attacked Amal positions, but on 4 June 1986, "Amal decisively defeated [the] attack by the Sunni `6th February' militia". [ Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXII, August 1986, p. 34587.] (Henry Degenhardt (Revolutionary and Dissident Movements) identifies the 6th February militia as a brigade of Mourabitoun.) [ Henry Degenhardt, Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, London: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1988, p. 218.] Mourabitoun was allied with the Druze militia in February 1987 when they again fought against Amal. [ Ibid.]

Another example of a Shi'ite-Sunni conflict in Lebanon began in May 1985, when Amal launched the "war of the camps" against the Palestinian refugee camps in West Beirut. [ Amnesty International, Report 1986, (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1986), p. 343.] Ninety percent of Palestinians in Lebanon are Sunni. The Amal attack on the camps was allegedly at "Syria's behest", and constituted an attempt to prevent Arafat supporters from regaining a power base in Lebanon. [Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXIV, December 1988, p. 36363.]

Three Palestinian camps, Bourj al-Barajneh, Chatila, and Rashidiyeh, were placed under siege by Amal during the latter half of 1986. In April 1987, the arrival of the Syrian army resulted in the partial lifting of the siege, and women and children were allowed to leave the camps for supplies. [ Ibid.] Between April and July 1988, Arafat supporters were driven from Chatila and Rashidiyeh by members of the Fatah Revolutionary Council (Fatah al-Intifadeh), and in July, the last of the pro-Arafat fighters from Bourj al-Barajneh were removed to Sidon.

Please consult the attachments from Keesing's Record of World Events, which discuss several clashes between Shi'ite and Sunni militias. Also, the Amnesty International Report 1987, 1986 and 1985 for Lebanon are attached.