al-Hajj Radwan Force | |
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فوج الحاج رضوان | |
Active | 2008–present |
Country | ![]() ![]() |
Allegiance | |
Type | Special operations forces |
Role | Military-security unit, direct action, raiding, ambush, sniping, reconnaissance |
Size | 2,500 ca. (est. 2022) |
Part of | Hezbollah armed strength |
Nickname(s) | Unit 125 |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Khalil Shahimi |
Notable commanders | Abu ‘Ali Al- Tabataba’i, Hamza Ibrahim Haidar |
The al-Hajj Radwan Force (Arabic: فوج الحاج رضوان, romanized: Fawj al-Ḥajj Raḍwān, lit. 'al-Hajj Radwan Regiment', also spelled Redwan or Ridwan) is a special operation forces unit of Hezbollah. Its main mission is to infiltrate the territory of Israel, with specific attention to Galilee and northern Israel.[1]
Hezbollah has trained special forces fighters since the 1990s, which are today part of the Radwan Force. Originally known as the "Rapid Intervention Force" or the "Intervention Unit", the unit was renamed in 2008 to honor Imad Fayez Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah leader also known as "Hajj Radwan."[2] The Radwan Forces have particular experience in raids and small unit tactics[3] and according to Hezbollah, perform "ambushes, assassinations, or operations that require deep infiltration."[4]
Despite UN Resolution 1701, which demands that Hezbollah withdraw its forces north of the Litani River,[5] the Radwan Force remains deployed along the Blue Line—the border monitored by United Nations peacekeepers—conducting surveillance and gathering intelligence on northern Israel.[2] The unit has been active in various conflicts, including the Syrian civil war and the ongoing skirmishes along the Lebanon-Israel border. The unit has been involved in the fighting since October 7, 2023, and is expected to lead any future Hezbollah incursions into Israel.[2]