Senior commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force killed in attack in Lebanon

Several other terrorists from the Radwan forces who were operating in the buildings were also killed in the attack.

 Members of Hezbollah attend the funeral of Wissam Tawil, a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces in Lebanon, January 9, 2024 (photo credit: REUTERS/AZIZ TAHER)
Members of Hezbollah attend the funeral of Wissam Tawil, a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces in Lebanon, January 9, 2024
(photo credit: REUTERS/AZIZ TAHER)

Senior Hezbollah Radwan force commander Ali Jaafar Maatuk was killed in a strike in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the military said.

Maatuk was killed when IDF Air Force jets struck a command headquarters of the Radwan forces in the Jumayjimah area pf southern Lebanon.

During the attack, other Radwan forces commanders were also killed who were responsible for launching attacks into Israel.

Several other terrorists from the Radwan forces who were operating in the buildings were also killed in the attack.

 Members of Hezbollah attend the funeral of Wissam Tawil, a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces who according to Lebanese security sources was killed during an Israeli strike on south Lebanon, in Khirbet Silem, Lebanon, January 9, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/AZIZ TAHER)
Members of Hezbollah attend the funeral of Wissam Tawil, a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces who according to Lebanese security sources was killed during an Israeli strike on south Lebanon, in Khirbet Silem, Lebanon, January 9, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/AZIZ TAHER)

The Radwan forces

The Radwan forces are Hezbollah's special forces consisting of Hezbollah's best fighters, with many having had experience fighting in the Syrian civil war.

The Radwan forces have been active during the exchanges of fire in the north between Israel and Hezbollah.

Several high-ranking Radwan commanders have been targeted during the war, with the mastermind of the March 2023 Megiddo bombing being killed in February, he was also responsible for coordinating Hezbollah's attacks in the immediate aftermath of October 7.

Hezbollah has been rumored to want to avoid losses of commanders and fighters from the Radwan forces due to their experience and ability.