Overview
Muhammad Haydar is a U.S.-designated senior leader within Hezbollah’s Jihad Council—a sub-council that reports to Hezbollah’s Shura Council—which manages resistance activity including oversight, recruitment, training equipment, and security among other activities.“Terrorist Designations under Amended Executive Order to Modernize Sanctions to Combat Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, September 10, 2019, https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-under-amended-executive-order-to-modernize-sanctions-to-combat-terrorism/; “Responses to Information Requests,” Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada,” November 4, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/pages/attachments/2015/09/29/lbn104638.e.pdf; Casey L. Addis and Christopher M. Blanchard, “Hezbollah: Background and Issues for Congress,” Congressional Research Service, January 3, 2011, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R41446.pdf.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Haydar was the chief of Bureau 113, and ran Hezbollah networks operating outside of Lebanon. However, no information on what and where those activities occurred has been documented. Additionally, Haydar is alleged to have appointed leaders to various unspecified Hezbollah units. Haydar was reportedly very close to deceased Hezbollah international operations chief Imad Mughniyah. In 2004, Haydar was elected to the Lebanese Parliament.“Terrorist Designations under Amended Executive Order to Modernize Sanctions to Combat Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, September 10, 2019, https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-under-amended-executive-order-to-modernize-sanctions-to-combat-terrorism/.
On September 10, 2019, the U.S. Department of State listed Haydar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for his role in Hezbollah.“Terrorist Designations under Amended Executive Order to Modernize Sanctions to Combat Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, September 10, 2019, https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-under-amended-executive-order-to-modernize-sanctions-to-combat-terrorism/.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Hezbollah
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Militia, political party, social-service provider, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Iranian-sponsored, Islamist, jihadist, Khomeinist, Shiite
- Position(s):
- Senior leader, Hezbollah’s Jihad Council
Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. agenda. Hezbollah is primarily based in Lebanon, but has carried out terrorist and criminal operations around the world.
History
United States
The U.S. Department of State listed Muhammad Haydar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on September 10, 2019.“Designation of Muhammad Haydar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” Federal Register, September 19, 2019, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/19/2019-20274/designation-of-muhammad-haydar-as-a-specially-designated-global-terrorist.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.