- Hezbollah commander Abu Khalil Barji was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon
- Barji led the Radwan Force, Hezbollah’s elite unit trained by Iran and linked to North Korea
- The unit uses tunnels, drones, and advanced weapons, gaining experience in the Syrian civil war
Abu Khalil Barji, a commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said on Sunday.
The Majdal Selem area was struck on Saturday. Two other Hezbollah members were also killed, the army said. Hezbollah has not commented on the claim.
Barji was in charge of the Radwan Force, reportedly trained by North Korea and Iran.
All About Hezbollah's Radwan Force
The Radwan Force is Hezbollah's elite military unit, also known as Unit 125. It is considered the group's most capable formation, made up of experienced fighters drawn from within its ranks.
The unit is estimated to have 2,500 to 3,000 fighters, supported by logistics and other non-combat personnel. They are organised into small, flexible assault groups that can operate independently.
Hezbollah began using the Radwan Force in its latest confrontation with Israel after March 1, when hostilities resumed following a US-Israeli attack on Iran.
The unit was previously held back during major conflicts, including the 2006 war with Israel. At the time, Hezbollah kept the force in reserve, pending further escalation.
Origin
The Radwan Force was developed after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The unit was originally called the “Intervention Forces.”
It was later renamed after Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah commander whose operational name was “Hajj Radwan.” He was killed in 2008.
Training
Entry into the Radwan Force involves strict selection and intensive training. Fighters are trained in sniping, anti-tank weapons, explosives, hand-to-hand combat, and drone operations for surveillance and attacks.
The unit is trained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, with longstanding reports of links to North Korea. North Korean expertise has influenced special forces tactics and tunnel warfare, and some Hezbollah leaders, including former chief Hassan Nasrallah, are believed to have received related training earlier in their careers.
The force gained major battlefield experience during the Syrian civil war, where it was deployed from around 2013 in support of government forces.
Operations
Fighters operate in small squads of 7-10, based in villages across southern Lebanon with locally stored weapons and supplies. They use a mix of arms, including rifles, machine guns, sniper systems, anti-tank weapons and RPGs, along with drones, night vision and advanced optics.
Tunnel networks are central to their strategy. Hezbollah has built extensive underground systems over the years, with reported support from North Korea, whose tunnelling expertise has helped develop routes for movement, storage and launching attacks.
