Radwan Force

The Radwan Force is a special operations unit in Hezbollah’s armed forces, tasked with launching offensive attacks into Israeli territory and capturing civilian communities in the Galilee.{{cite web |last1=Beeri |first1=Tal |title=The Radwan Unit ("Radwan Force" - Unit 125) |url=https://israel-alma.org/2023/01/05/the-radwan-unit-radwan-force-unit-125/ |website=Alma Research and Education Center |access-date=4 November 2023 |date=5 January 2023}} Israeli officials expect the Radwan Force to lead any future Hezbollah infiltration into Israel, similar to the October 7 attacks by Hamas.{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Euan |title=Here's What to Know About Hezbollah's Radwan Force |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/08/world/middleeast/radwan-hezbollah-israel.html |access-date=18 September 2024 |work=New York Times |date=2024-01-08 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240109030559/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/08/world/middleeast/radwan-hezbollah-israel.html |archive-date=2024-01-09}} In addition, the Radwan Force conducts reconnaissance and intelligence operations against Israeli targets using UAVs.{{Cite news |last=Dabouch |first=Sarah |date=2024-02-15 |title=What is the Radwan Force, Hezbollah's elite unit on the Israeli border? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/15/who-are-radwan-force-hezbollah/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} The unit's sophistication and advanced weaponry explain how Hezbollah's has increasingly been viewed as a hybrid actor, especially sophisticated for a non-state actor, since the 2006 Lebanon War.{{cite web |last=Pollak |first=Nadav |date=August 2016 |title=Research Notes No 35: The Transformation of Hezbollah by Its Involvement in Syria |url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/ResearchNote35-Pollak-2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827064407/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/ResearchNote35-Pollak-2.pdf |archive-date=2020-08-27 |access-date=2018-02-12 |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy}} and according to Hezbollah, perform "ambushes, assassinations, or operations that require deep infiltration."Gabrielsen, Iver (2014) "The evolution of Hezbollah's strategy and military performance, 1982–2006," Small Wars & Insurgencies, 25:2, 257–283, DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2014.903636M

The Radwan Force was founded in 2006 as the Intervention Unit, a special offensive force to assist Hezbollah’s territorial units, and established with the assistance of the IRGC Quds Force. Under the command of senior Hezbollah militant leader Imad Mughniyeh, the unit was responsible for the 2006 Hezbollah cross-border raid that led to the outbreak of the 2006 Lebanon War. After Mughniyeh's killing, the unit was renamed for his operational alias Hajj Radwan (الحاج رضوان) in April 2008.{{cite news |last1=Halabi |first1=Einav |title=Hezbollah's commando force emboldens Nasrallah to take on Israel |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/skmb7tk8h |website=Ynetnews |access-date=4 November 2023 |language=en |date=9 June 2023}}

The existence of the Radwan Force was revealed during Ashura ceremonies in 2014 in the Dahiya neighborhood of Beirut, when militants of a distinct unit were photographed while providing security. At this time, the Radwan Force was allegedly commanded by a man named Muhammad Ali Hamadi.{{cite web |last1=Abou Assi |first1=Jamil |title=Les forces spéciales du Hezbollah - Centre Français de Recherche sur le Renseignement |url=https://cf2r.org/actualite/les-forces-speciales-du-hezbollah/ |website=cf2r.org |access-date=4 November 2023 |language=fr-FR |date=7 November 2014}}

As of 2023, the unit's commander was Haytham Ali Tabataba’i, who the United States added to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) in 2016. After the death of Ibrahim Aqil in September 2024, Abu Ali Reda Abbas{{efn|name=aka}} was appointed head of the unit.{{cite news |title=Hezbollah's Radwan Force chooses its new lead commander - report |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-821191 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=Jerusalem Post |date=2024-09-22}}

The Radwan Unit gained prominence as an elite reputation in its involvement in brutal fighting in Lebanon and Syria as part of Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian civil war to support the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to analysts, Hezbollah in general, and the Radwan Force in particular, gained significant battlefield experience and combat arms coordination.{{cite web |last1=Quitaz |first1=Suzan |date=20 April 2023 |title=The Rise of Radwan Unit – Hezbollah's New Firepower |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-rise-of-radwan-unit-hezbollahs-new-firepower/ |access-date=4 November 2023 |website=blogs.timesofisrael.com}} According to Israeli researcher Dima Adamsky, the cooperation with advanced regular armed forces in Syria enabled the Radwan Force to transition from advanced infantry to a commando force, capable to achieve significant operational and strategic effects in a war against Israel.{{cite news |last1=Opall-Rome |first1=Barbara |date=7 November 2016 |title=Russian Influence on Hezbollah Raises Red Flag in Israel |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2016/11/07/russian-influence-on-hezbollah-raises-red-flag-in-israel/ |access-date=4 November 2023 |work=Defense News |language=en}}

Early in the war, the unit was stationed in Aleppo area and contributed to battles of al-Qusayr and of al-Qalamoun, being decisive for the Syrian government's victories. Troops were later garrisoned in northern Syria and Saraqib in Idlib Governorate, operating with Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba and Liwa Fatemiyoun and suffering significant casualties against regular Turkish Armed Forces.{{cite news |last1=Ahronheim |first1=Anna |title=Israel learned from Hezbollah's defeat at the hands of Turkey |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/israel-learned-from-hezbollahs-defeat-at-the-hands-of-turkey-628836 |access-date=5 November 2023 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=21 May 2020}}

The Radwan Force area of operations also includes the Quneitra Governorate and Daraa, integrated with the Syrian Arab Army and Shiite militias. In the South, the Radwan Force cooperates with the 4th Armoured Division, and with the Russian Naval Infantry Unit 810.{{cite book |last1=Wahab |first1=Hadi |title=Hezbollah: A Regional Armed-Non State Actor |date=January 2019 |page=290 |url=https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/122051/WahabH.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |access-date=4 November 2023}}

In May 2017, Radwan Unit was allegedly withdrawn from Syria and redeployed on in southern Lebanon.{{cite web |title=Organizational Chart |url=https://hezbollah.org/organizational-chart |website=hezbollah.org |access-date=4 November 2023 |language=en}}

In February 2020, Radwan Unit was targeted by the Turkish Air Force as part of Operation Spring Shield, suffering over two dozen of casualties.{{cite news |last1=Ahronheim |first1=Anna |title=Israel learned from Hezbollah's defeat at the hands of Turkey |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/israel-learned-from-hezbollahs-defeat-at-the-hands-of-turkey-628836 |access-date=21 November 2023 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=21 May 2020}}

In the spring of 2023, the unit took part in rare public military exercises by Hezbollah, displaying its arsenal and simulating an infiltration into Israeli territory.

After the outbreak of the Gaza war, Hezbollah transferred medical teams and Radwan Force militants to the Syria-Israel border.{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Brian |last2=Jhaveri |first2=Ashka |last3=Tyson |first3=Kathryn |last4=Moore |first4=Johanna |last5=Soltani |first5=Amin |last6=Harward |first6=Christina |last7=Carl |first7=Nicholas |title=Iran Update, November 2, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-november-2-2023 |website=Institute for the Study of War |access-date=4 November 2023 |language=en |date=2 November 2023}} The Radwan Force led Hezbollah's participation in the Israel-Hezbollah cross-border attacks during the war and took the lead for Hezbollah's operations in the broader, longstanding Hezbollah–Israel conflict. After the October 7 attacks, Israeli security officials cited the Radwan Unit as a force it could no longer accept on the Israel-Lebanon border. According to IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari, the focus of Israel's actions in southern Lebanon was to force the Radwan Unit away from the border, either via a diplomatic solution that moved the force north of the Litani River or a major Israeli military offensive.

On 8 January 2024, in the village of Majdel Selm, an Israeli airstrike killed Wissam al-Tawil, a deputy head within the force with another Hezbollah fighter, the first death of a commander announced by Hezbollah since the October 7 attacks. As of February 2024, about 50 Radwan fighters had been killed in the previous 4 months, including Abbas Raad, the son of Lebanese Parliament member Mohammed Raad.{{Cite web |last=Gebeily |first=Maya |date=8 January 2024 |title=Israeli strike on Lebanon kills senior commander in elite Hezbollah unit |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strike-lebanon-kills-senior-commander-elite-hezbollah-unit-security-2024-01-08/ |access-date=8 January 2024 |website=Reuters}}

On 20 September 2024, an Israeli air strike in Dahieh in southern Beirut killed commander Ibrahim Aqil, head of the training unit and former commander Abu Hassan Samir, senior Radwan official Ahmed Wehbe, and 13 other Radwan Force commanders, who were at a meeting of Radwan Force leaders.[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl8kelkxepo Death toll from Israeli strike on Beirut rises to 37, Lebanon's health ministry says], BBCNews, 21 Sept 2024{{cite news |title=IDF confirms assassination of Ibrahim Aqil, names 15 Hezbollah commanders killed in strike |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-821125 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=Jerusalem Post |date=2024-09-21}}{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2024/09/24/world-news/hezbollah-missile-commander-ibrahim-kobeisi-killed-in-israeli-airstrike/ |work=New York Post |date=24 September 2024 |accessdate=6 November 2024 |title=Hezbollah missile commander killed in Israeli airstrike — 4th terror leader to be taken out in a week}}

According to Tal Beeri, the Radwan Force consists of around 2,500 troops, with most of them having fought in Syria by 2024. The unit has an independent chain of command and order of battle. Under the Radwan Force command, several small, squad-level subunits ({{langx|ar|شُعبة|Shu’aba}}, {{Literal translation|Section}}) operate autonomously. Each sub-unit amounts to 7-10 militants based in Shiite villages in Lebanon. These villages function as logisitical reference points for squads. Squads are garrisoned in the vicinity of villages, with ammunition and self-sustainment supplies stored for emergencies.{{cite web |title=Why Are Israeli Military Commanders Afraid of Hezbollah's Elite Radwan Unit? |url=http://alwaght.net/en/News/238890/Why-Are-Israeli-Military-Commanders-Afraid-of-Hezbollah%E2%80%99s-Elite-Radwan-Unit? |website=Alwaght |access-date=4 November 2023 |language=en |date=11 June 2023}} While being garrisoned near amicable villages, militants are kept separated from civilian population.

This organisation allows squad commanders to operate with significant tactical autonomy, without being dependent on external (and insecure) logistical assistance.

Additionally, the unit consists of combat engineers who, apart from military training, are also trained in cyber and information gathering fields.

According to Einav Halabi, three psychological care facilities operate in southern Lebanon in order to assist Radwan Force members.

According to American-Israeli news enterprise All Israel News, the commander up to 23 November 2023 was Khalil Shahimi.{{cite news |title=As northern front heats up, Israel strikes Hezbollah's Radwan Force HQ, killing son of Hezbollah parliament member |url=https://allisrael.com/as-northern-front-heats-up-israel-strikes-hezbollah-s-radwan-force-headquarters-killing-son-of-hezbollah-parliament-member |access-date=23 November 2023 |work=All Israel News |date=23 November 2023}}

Militants are admitted into the Radwan Force after a careful vetting process. Training begins only after the screening procedure.

Training includes sniper training, anti-tank warfare, hand-to-hand combat, explosives training, tactical driving, as well as training for special forces. This latter variety of training includes a “captivity workshop”, in order to teach the trainee to behave in case of capture, and operation of intelligence-gathering UAVs.

The Radwan Force’s training also emphasizes physical fitness, long-distance running, mountain navigation, and tactical warfare. The unit’s operatives receive training directly from the IRGC-GF Saberin Unit.

The al-Hajj Radwan Force insignia consists of a roaring lion holding the Zulfiqar sword.{{cite web |title=Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (June 2-15, 2023) |url=https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/app/uploads/2023/06/E_113_23.pdf |website=www.terrorism-info.org.il |publisher=The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center |access-date=26 November 2023 |page=6 |date=18 June 2023}}

File:2023 Hezbollah drill in Aaramta 05.jpg

According to Tal Beeri, the Radwan Force has access to all weapons in Hezbollah's arsenal which may be relevant for its operations, including every weapon pertaining to infantry and commando warfare available on the arms market. Combat accessories, including of Western and Russian origin, are also used.

The Radwan Force employs small, highly mobile units on motorcycles, quad bikes, and light all-terrain vehicles equipped with Russian-made Kornet ATGMs.{{cite web |title=Hezbollah's entry into the current conflict: a contrasting threat to that of Hamas |url=https://www.prevail-partners.com/hezbollahs-entry-into-the-current-conflict-a-contrasting-threat-to-that-of-hamas/ |website=Prevail Partners |access-date=4 November 2023 |date=16 October 2023}}

On the occasion of their exposure in 2014, militants of the Radwan Force wore black uniforms, helmets, balaclavas, and dark goggles concealing their features and were armed with assault rifles typical of commando units.

According to the Israel Defense Forces-linked Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, a 2023 video shows a Radwan Force member in a red beret and with an al-Radwan badge on his sleeve.

{{notelist}}

• Hezbollah armed strength
• 2006 Lebanon War
• Unit 3800
• Unit 127
• Department 2800 (Hezbollah Special Operations)

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Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in Lebanon

Category:Hezbollah

Category:Military units and formations established in 2008

Category:2008 establishments in Lebanon