Phares has drawn controversy over his association with Lebanese militant groups in the 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War.[27][28][3][29][30] According to the Washington Post, Phares "was a political adviser to Lebanese militants during their war against Muslim factions during the 1980s".[31] Phares has said that he was only involved with the militants in a political capacity and that he has not been directly implicated in any acts of violence.[14][29]