Here is a quick breakdown of some of the major Mideastern terrorist organizations:
Abu Nidal Organization (ANO): Founded: 1974 Origin: split from Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Leader: Sabri al-Banna Location: Lebanon and possibly Iraq Supported by: Iraq, Libya and Syria Targets: United States, United Kingdom, France and Israel
al-Jihad: Founded: 1970's Origin: Egyptian Islamic extremist group Leaders: Ayman al-Zawahiri and Ahmad Hussayn Agiza Location: Cairo, Egypt Network: Afghanistan, Pakistan, United Kingdom and Sudan Target: Overthrow Egyptian government and replace it with an Islamic state.
Gama'a al-Islamiyya (the Islamic Group, IG): Founded: late 1970's Location: Southern Egypt with support in Cairo and Alexandria Supported by: Iranian, Sudanese and Afghan militant groups Target: Overthrow Egyptian government and replace it with an Islamic state.
HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement): Founded: 1987 Origin: Outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood; Location: Gaza Strip, West Bank, Israel and Jordan Supported by: Palestinian expatriates, Iran and private funding from moderate Islamic states Target: Establish an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel.
Harakat ul-Mujahideen (HUM): Origin: Islamic militant group Leader: Faziur Rehman Khalil Location: Pakistan; operates in Kashmir; trains in Afghanistan Target: Revenge on the United States for missile attacks in Khowst in August 1998.
Hezbollah (Party of God): Founded: early 1980's Origin: Radical Shia group Location: southern Lebanon Network: Europe, Africa, South American and North America Supported by: Iran and Syria Target: Create an Iranian-style Islamic state in Lebanon and remove all non-Islamic influences; anti-West; anti-Israel
Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK): Founded: 1960's Origin: Formed by college-educated young Iranian men; Location: Iraq Supported by: Expatriate Iranian communities through front organizations Target: Western influence under the deposed Shah's regime.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad-Shaqaqi Faction: Founded: 1970's Origin: militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Location: Israel and occupied territories Network: Jordan, Lebanon and Syria Target: Establish an Islamic Palestinian state through a holy war and destruction of Israel; Revenge for the murder of leader Fathi Shaqaqi in October 1995
