Al-Murabitun
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Al-Murabitun (al-murabitūn, also transliterated as al-Mourabitoun, an Arabic term literally meaning The Sentinels, but with Muslim historical connotations) is a name for the Independent Nasserist Organization of Lebanon. It was also the name of the party's militia during the Lebanese Civil War, and there is no distinction between the two. Both the INO and al-Murabitun were led by Ibrahim Kulaylat.
The radically Arab nationalist (Nasserist) Al-Murabitun was largely led by Sunni Muslims, but at its peak, its approximately 3,000 fighters also included many Shi'a muslims and some Druze, as well as minor numbers of other Lebanese sects. It participated in the Lebanese National Movement (LNM) under the leadership of Kamal Jumblatt's PSP against government forces and mainly Christian militias, and it was a strong ally of the Palestinian movement. It fought in West Beirut, Sidon and Tripoli among other places.
[edit] History
Formed in 1958, its membership was mainly composed by Muslims of both the Shi'a and the Sunni sects, and some Druze members, but often referred to as a Sunni movement. It was Arab socialist and secular, as well as radically pan-Arab and Arab nationalist, and although never a large movement it formed an important part of the opposition to the Maronite-dominated order in Lebanon. It was a member of the Front for Progressive Parties and National Forces, later reorganized as the Lebanese National Movement (LNM). It was a strong ally of the Palestinian movement.
It was one of a number of Nasserist movements, including the Movement of Unionist Nasserites, which split from the INO in 1982 under the leadership of Samir Sabbagh.
Before and during the Lebanese Civil War it organized an armed militia known as al-Murabitun, which held positions on the antigovernment side in West Beirut and Tripoli. The party was nearly destroyed and its leader, Ibrahim Kulaylat, forced into exile, after clashes with the Druze PSP and the Shi'a Amal Movement in 1985. The PSP had been an earlier ally of the INO, but was now urged into alliance with Amal by Syria, which had turned on the PLO, which was in turn allied with the INO.
Its unwavering support for the PLO resulted in al-Murabitun being attacked and nearly completely destroyed by an alliance of Druze PSP fighters, the Shi'a Muslim Amal Movement and pro-Syrian organizations, after Syria launched an all-out offensive on the PLO and its supporters in 1985.
Al-Murabitun then turned into a secret organization and launched a guerrilla war in support of its allies the Palestinians against Amal movement, during what was called War of the Camps between 1985 and 1987.
Al-Murabitun also played a major role in the Sunni/leftist multiparty large scale offensive led by the PSP against Amal Movement in February 1987 in West Beirut, that nearly resulted in Amal Movement being totally defeated. And since that situation could not be tolerated by Damascus (Amal was its closest ally), Syria Consequently occupied West Beirut beginning of February 21, 1987.
On the 16th of April 2001, Al-Murabitun leadership (in the absence of Ibrahim Kulaylat) held a press conference in Beirut and announced the official return of the organization to the Lebanese political theater.
Today Al-Murabitun politically stands side by side with the pro-Syrian organizations in the severe Lebanese debate that is literary dividing the country between pro and anti-Syrians.
