Unit 127
{{Hezbollah}}Unit 127 is Hezbollah's "aerial unit" (وحدة الجوية), is the group's specialized aerial unit, responsible for the development, production, and operational deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. The unit has emerged as a central player in Hezbollah’s military strategy, particularly in its ongoing conflict with Israel.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-06 |title=الوحدة 127.. عقل حزب الله «المُسيّر» على رادار إسرائيل |url=https://al-ain.com/article/unit-127-hezbollah-drone-lebanon-israel |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=العين الإخبارية |language=ar}}{{Cite web |last=نيوز |first=إرم |title=هاجمت منزل نتنياهو.. ماذا تعرف عن الوحدة 127 في "حزب الله"؟ (إنفوغراف) {{!}} إرم نيوز |url=https://www.eremnews.com/news/arab-world/c8ftbl3 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=https://www.eremnews.com |language=ar}}
History
Unit 127 began its activity around 2013, reportedly founded by Hassan al-Laqis and later expanded its capabilities in the Syrian war under Iranian Quds Force mentorship.
Activities & capabilities
= Drone Arsenal =
= Tactics =
The unit employs a strategy of launching swarms of rockets and missiles to overwhelm Israel’s air defenses, creating openings for drones to penetrate Israeli airspace. This tactic was notably used in a deadly attack on the Golani army base in central Israel, which killed four soldiers and injured 58 more. On October 19, 2024 the unit sent three drones were launched; two were intercepted and one struck the residence. It hit and cracked a bedroom window but could not penetrate further due to reinforced glass. Debris scattered around the pool and yard.{{Cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=2024-10-19 |title=Drone Hits Building Near Netanyahu’s Home in Coastal Israel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/19/world/middleeast/drone-netanyahu-israel-caesarea.html |access-date=2025-06-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Yee |first=Irene Nasser, Isaac |date=2024-10-23 |title=Video shows damage to Netanyahu’s beach house as Hezbollah claims drone attack |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/23/middleeast/video-netanyahu-beach-hezbollah-drone-attack-intl-hnk |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}
= Production and storage =
Unit 127 is responsible for importing, manufacturing, and deploying UAVs. The unit’s facilities are often embedded within civilian areas, particularly in Beirut’s southern Dahieh suburb, making them challenging targets for Israeli strikes.{{Cite web |title=Institute for the Study of War |url=http://dev-isw.bivings.com/ |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}
= Iranian support =
The unit operates under the guidance and with the funding of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which oversees drone production, training, and the smuggling of equipment. Iranian influence is evident in both the technology and operational doctrine of Unit 127.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-19 |title=Attack on Bibi's residence: Israel vows response, Iran denies involvement |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202410196295 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.iranintl.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-20 |title=Tehran rejects claims of involvement in drone attack on Netanyahu's residence |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/505243/Tehran-rejects-claims-of-involvement-in-drone-attack-on-Netanyahu-s |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Research |first=Alma |date=2025-02-24 |title=Iran's Military Aid to Hezbollah's Rehabilitation - Involved Units |url=https://israel-alma.org/irans-military-aid-to-hezbollahs-rehabilitation-involved-units/ |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Alma Research and Education Center |language=en-US}}
Recent developments
= Israeli Strikes =
In June 2025, Israel conducted its most extensive strikes against Unit 127’s infrastructure, targeting underground drone production and storage facilities in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district and in southern Lebanon. These strikes followed public evacuation warnings to residents and were coordinated with the U.S. governmen.{{Cite web |last=Daoud |first=David |date=2025-06-07 |title=Israel strikes alleged Hezbollah drone production and storage facilities in Lebanon |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/06/israel-strikes-alleged-hezbollah-drone-production-and-storage-facilities-in-lebanon.php |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=FDD's Long War Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Salem |first=Mohammed Tawfeeq, Maija Ehlinger, Mostafa |date=2025-06-05 |title=Israel attacks suburbs of Beirut, targeting alleged Hezbollah ‘drone factories’ |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/05/middleeast/israel-strikes-lebanon-latam-intl |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}
= Casualties and Impact =
The strikes destroyed several key facilities and reportedly killed multiple Hezbollah operatives. The attacks were in response to an escalation in drone attacks on Israeli territory, with Unit 127 having launched over 1,000 drones at Israeli targets since October 2023.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-07 |title=Geagea calls Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs a ‘scandal’ |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1463633/geagea-calls-israeli-strikes-on-beiruts-southern-suburbs-a-scandal.html |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=L'Orient Today |language=en}}
= Leadership Losses =
The overall commander of Unit 127, Muhammad Sarur, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024, representing a significant blow to the unit’s operational leadership.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=Israel fighting Hezbollah with ‘full force’ despite ceasefire calls |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20jx85vxwdo |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}