ABSTRACT

Over the past three decades, Hezbollah has elaborated and implemented its project for a ‘Resistance Society’ in al-Dahiya, the southern suburbs of Beirut.1 Al-Dahiya is the Party’s capital city, where its key cadres and members reside; where the headquarters of its large network of service institutions are located; where most of its constituency lives; where the Party’s ideology is physically materialized in the built environment; and where its political economy thrives the most. During Israel’s 33-day war on Lebanon in summer 2006, the Israeli air force raided al-Dahiya repeatedly, targeting residential and commercial neighbourhoods which it identifi ed as integral parts of Hezbollah’s infrastructure. All neighbourhoods in Al-Dahiya were hit, but the most signifi cant urbicide took place in Haret Hreik, the strategic quarter of the Party. Municipal estimates indicate that over 250 apartment buildings were razed.