Full Description
In the nearly 25 years since the ascent of an Islamic regime, Iran has become one of the most prominent supporters of terror worldwide. Today Iran actively employs terror to achieve its international objectives. The Axis of Evil outlines the operations and goals of Shiite and Iranian terror. As Shaul Shay shows, Iran has done its utmost to conceal its involvement in terror activities and avoids leaving incriminating "fingerprints" that might prompt retaliatory action by victims of this terrorism. In consequence, most of what we know about Iranian terror activity has been gleaned from the capture and trials of Iranian terrorists or terrorists acting on Iran's behalf.
The Axis of Evil deals extensively with Iran's involvement in terrorist activity against Israel through Hizballah after the Israel Defense Forces' withdrawal from Lebanon (May 2000) and the instigation of the Al-Aksa Intifada (September 2000-2003). It examines Iran's attitude towards the State of Israel since the rise of Knomeini, confirming that Iran sees Israel as a primary source of the world's wrongdoings and the epitome of evil. In turn, Israel has become one of Iran's archenemies. Over the years, Iran has strengthened its ideological links with radical Arab and Palestinian circles. In addition, it actively supports Hizballah, which acts on behalf of Iran from its base in Lebanon and perpetrates terror attacks against Israel and against representatives of Western and Arab countries in Lebanon as well as in the international arena.
This book is a comprehensive and in-depth study of Shiite and Iranian terror activity. In addition to drawing attention to the significance of Iran's contributions to terror, it provides readers with a better understanding of Iran's activities in light of the global war against terrorism as well as the deployment of American troops along Iran's borders with Afghanistan and Iraq.
Contents
List of tables and Figures
Introduction
State-Supported Terror—Theoretical Background
1 The Ideological and Religious Background and the
Organizational Infrastructure of Terror in Iran
The Ideological and Religious Background for the
Use of Terror by Iran Shiite Entities
Basic Principles of the Shia
The Main Principles of Khomeinism
Exporting the Iranian Revolution
Intelligence and Terror Functions in Iran
2 Categories of Iranian State Terror
Iranian Terror against Foreign Targets on Iranian Soil
Iranian Terror Worldwide
The Infrastructure of Shiite Terror in Africa
South America—Islamic Terror Activity at the Tri-BorderArea
Iranian Terror by Proxy
The Hizballah
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine—
The General Command (PFLP-GC) (Jibril's Front)
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (the Fathi Shkaki Faction)
3 The Modus Operandi of Iranian/Shiite Terror
Characteristics of International Terror Activity Perpetrated by Shiite Terror Organizations
Suicide Attacks
Attacks against Aviation
Assassinations
Explosive Devices and Car Bombs
Kidnapping Hostages
4 Targets of the Iranian/Shiite Terror
Israel
Hizballah and Iran's Policy following the IDF's
Withdrawal from Lebanon (May 2000)
The Hizballah's Strategic Branch
The Hizballah—Espionage and Attempts to Perpetrate
Attacks Inside Israel
Iranian Involvement in the Al Aksa Intifada
Iranian Aid to the Palestinian Authority
Iranian Aid to the Organization of Munir al Makdakh
The Santorini Episode
The Karin A Episode
The Abu-Hassan Episode
Western Targets
Arab Targets
Iranian Expatriates and Opposition Organizations
5 Iran and Terror—Financing and Policy
Financing Shiite Terror via Criminal Activity
Iranian Policy in the Era of Khomeini's Successors
Iran, September 11 attacks, and the U.S. War against Terror
Iran and the War in Iraq (2003) (Iraqi Freedom)
The Shiites in Iraq in the Aftermath of the War
Syria and Its Involvement in Terror in the Aftermath
of the War in Iraq
Summary and Conclusions
Index
