UN Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004), 2 September 2004, calls for “the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias". So far, however, Hezbollah, along with armed Palestinian groups, have refused to comply.

• Hezbollah

A Shi'a Muslim armed group based in Lebanon that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is supported by Syria and Iran. Since the last elections in 2005, Hezbollah has been a member of the current Government after it won 23 out of 128 parliamentary seats. Apart from its military faction, it is largely involved with social work.

The group appears on the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list of the US State Department.

See also: Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu'llah) backgrounder, Council on Foreign Relations, 8 June 2009

For more details see - Merip and the BBC profile

• Fatah Al-Islam

A Palestinian armed group.

See: Fatah Al-Islam backgrounder, Council on Foreign Relations, 8 June 2007