Lebanon: Information on pro-Iraq Ba'ath Party
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 18 September 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN2101 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: Information on pro-Iraq Ba'ath Party, 18 September 1989, LBN2101, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba268.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Lebanon (Hizb al-Ba'ath al Arabi al-Ishtirabi) split into two factions in the mid-seventies, one faction backing the Syrian forces which initially supported Christian militias, while the other faction supported Iraq. [ World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties, (New York: Facts on File, 1987), p.673.] However, in 1975-76 both factions reportedly formed part of the left-wing National Movement of Lebanon, which sought major social changes within Lebanon. [ Political Parties of the World, (Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1984), p. 276.] According to 1984 and 1989 reports, the leader of the pro-Iraq faction of the Ba'ath party of Lebanon has been Abdel Magid al Rafei [ Ibid.] or Abd Al-Majid Rafei. [ Europa Year Book 1989, (London: Europa Publications, 1989), p. 1619.]