Hezbollah’s Radwan Force: What We Know About the Elite Unit
On Wednesday, Hezbollah announced the death of 20 of its fighters, reportedly killed in wireless communication device explosions attributed to Israel. Among the dead was Ali Jafar Matouk, a field commander in the “Radwan Force,” as well as five other fighters who perished in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that the Israeli army is preparing to confront any potential infiltration by Radwan Force fighters, who are stationed in southern Lebanon and could breach settlements in the Galilee if border tensions escalate.
Key Facts About the Radwan Force:
- Founded: After the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese war.
- Alternative Name: Known as the “Haj Radwan Force,” named after its founder, Imad Mughniyeh, following his assassination in 2008.
- Elite Status: The Radwan Force is considered Hezbollah’s “elite unit.”
- Training: Participated in public military exercises in May 2023, which simulated infiltration operations into Israel.
- Armament: The unit possesses a significant arsenal, including rockets and various other weapons.
- Size: The force is comprised of a few thousand fighters.
- Mission: One of its primary tasks is infiltrating northern Israel, particularly targeting settlements.
- Israeli Concerns: Israeli sources express fear that the Radwan Force could attempt to overrun the Galilee region in the event of a full-scale war.
The Radwan Force, with its highly trained and well-armed fighters, represents a formidable element within Hezbollah’s military strategy, and its potential role in a broader conflict with Israel is a point of significant concern for Israeli defense planners.