Israeli media outlets have revealed that Hezbollah has started withdrawing its elite forces, known as the "Radwan Unit," from the border areas between Lebanon and Israel due to concerns about a sudden attack by the Israeli army that could escalate the conflict in the region. The Israeli military has received intelligence indicating that Radwan forces have partially moved from southern Lebanon to the north. According to the Israeli news site "Walla," this is largely due to the "large number of casualties" the group has sustained since October 8, when cross-border attacks with Israel began. Hezbollah has lost at least 123 of its fighters from Israeli strikes along the Lebanese border since the onset of the attacks. The report states that Hezbollah has redeployed thousands of its members from various branches "away from Israeli territory," including Radwan fighters. It remains unclear whether this troop withdrawal is a temporary or permanent tactic, according to Israeli military officials.
Nassir, Hezbollah regards the Radwan Unit as a valuable strategic asset. According to media reports, its fighters undergo training both inside and outside of Lebanon.
What Do We Know About the Radwan Unit?
The Radwan Unit is part of Hezbollah's special forces, recognized for their high shooting capabilities. Some analysts believe Hezbollah deploys these elements in combat only under special conditions. Due to the secretive nature of Hezbollah's military and security activities, not much information is available about this group; what is available is mostly speculation by the media. However, reports indicate that these members, clad in black uniforms, are special rapid response forces that have undergone extensive training to perform effectively, given the challenging conditions in the region and within Lebanon.
Sources close to Hezbollah claim that this unit has a military code number that identifies it within the hierarchical structure of the group. The Radwan Unit was formed some time ago from among Hezbollah's special forces and is considered one of the most important and best-trained units designed to engage in combat under specific conditions. This unit is tasked with missions that others cannot perform. The Radwan Unit was established following the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh (Hajj Radwan), who was responsible for Hezbollah's offensive operations alongside the special forces and rapid response units.
The Radwan Unit is a result of the ideas of Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, the military leader of Hezbollah. Some media sources claim that the military leader of this special unit is Abu Ali Al-Tabatabai, whom Israel is seeking to assassinate. The Israeli army attempted a failed operation to assassinate this Hezbollah military leader in the winter of 2014, targeting two Hezbollah vehicles in the Quneitra area of Syria.
Joining Hezbollah's special units requires passing through very difficult stages that make the members of this unit among the most deserving and prepared within the organization. The complicated selection processes for these members, including assessing their moral suitability, are basic criteria for attracting new recruits to the Radwan Unit. After new elements pass this stage, they begin military and physical training, assessing their endurance and resilience in tough conditions. This phase lasts a long time and includes both theoretical and practical study. Success in all these stages is one of the simplest conditions for joining the Radwan Unit.
Once a fighter completes all the difficult selection stages, they join Hezbollah's special unit and undergo military and theoretical training for various operational conditions. Thus, these elements become individuals with strong will and faith, capable of undertaking complex and challenging operations. Discipline and organization are among the most important characteristics of this unit; they are fully aware of who they are targeting and who their true enemy is. Members go through numerous specialized courses and various military sciences both theoretically and practically, both inside and outside Lebanon. They learn unique fighting techniques relevant to their structure and ideological orientations, enabling them to use various weapons, including unconventional ones not possessed by Hezbollah.
The "Walla" Israeli news site, close to Israel's security circles, reported on Hezbollah's capabilities in relation to this special unit, stating that the Radwan Unit is capable of infiltrating a large number of its forces into the nearby Israeli settlements to conduct offensive operations in these areas and then safely return to Lebanese territory. Additionally, the British magazine The Economist has remarked on the individual capabilities and qualifications of the Radwan Unit members, noting that "these individuals can engage in combat in mountains and hills over vast areas, advancing with unparalleled speed and exhibiting a high level of professionalism and endurance under various difficult conditions during operations."
