Amid the Gaza war, Hamas is seizing its political opportunity in Lebanon, forming what is called the “Al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards”. The movement said in a statement: “In confirmation of the role of the Palestinian people, wherever they are, in resisting the occupation by all available and legitimate means, and in continuation of what Operation Al-Aqsa Flood has achieved, and as a victory for the patient steadfastness of our Palestinian people and our valiant resistance, and the sacrifices our people have made, and in an effort to share with our men and youth in resisting the occupation and benefiting from their energies and scientific and technical capabilities, the Hamas movement in Lebanon announces the establishment and launch of the Al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards, calling on our people, the youth, and heroic men, to join the vanguards of the resistance, and to participate in shaping the future of your people, and in liberating Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Lebanese and even some Palestinians expressed concern at another militant group in Lebanon, and Hamas backtracked a little, claiming that "Al Aqsa Flood Vanguards" is “to organize the youth within a specific political and social framework, and to seek to educate them politically, religiously, morally, and ethically,” but not necessarily militarily.
All Christian Lebanese parties denounced Hamas's declaration of Al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards and reiterated their call to disarm all Palestinian camps completely.
The author, Marie Kortam, is an Associate Researcher at the French Institute of the Near-East (IFPO - Beirut). She is sympathetic towards Hamas: "Hamas is not a terrorist organization, but rather a Palestinian and Arab resistance movement with an Islamic ideology, elected by the Palestinian people. " To write this after October 7 is just another indication of the immorality of today's academia.
Her downplaying of Hamas' military aims in Lebanon are contradicted by a YNet article quoted in Times of Israel last December about the new Hamas military group:
Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, who splits time between Qatar, Turkey and Lebanon, was charged with leading the unit, Yedioth reported. The branch has initially been tasked with opening up a new front against Israel, with the recognition that its military capabilities will be limited.
Nonetheless, the goal has been to distract Israel’s attention away from Gaza during subsequent wars as much as possible, the Israeli paper said. Hamas recruited ideologically-aligned Palestinian activists living in Lebanon to fight in the unit, which is believed to be made up of several hundred members who operate covertly under the guise of civilian activity.
The branch is based in Tyre on the coast of Lebanon but it is believed to have other outposts throughout the country, according to Yedioth. Training for the fighters is being provided by unnamed Iranian actors and members are currently focused on building additional homemade rockets with a range of dozens of kilometers.
Their operations are funded in part by smuggling and drug sales. Hamas envisions the group eventually acquiring the capabilities to operate more advanced weaponry such as UAVs, Yedioth said.
The Shiite Hezbollah terror group, which controls much of southern Lebanon, is aware of the Sunni branch’s operations and has given them a green light. However, Hezbollah has veto power over the Hamas branch’s activities.
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