Jihad Council

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The Jihad Council of Hezbollah is a top body that directs the group’s military and security work. It also influences Hezbollah’s civilian arms and maintains ties with Iran. Established in 1995, the council reports directly to Hezbollah’s Secretary-General and sits under the Shura Council, Hezbollah’s main decision-making body.

The council leads actions against Israel and coordinates specialized units. It includes units such as Unit 133, recruits Palestinians in Lebanon for missions, and gathers intelligence across Eastern Europe to target Israel.

History and leadership
The Jihad Council was formed at Hezbollah’s fourth conclave in July 1995 to oversee military and security activities. Early members included Imad Mughniyeh (head until 2008) and Mustafa Badreddine (head until 2016). The current leadership of the council is not publicly clear. The council is made up of senior Hezbollah military figures and oversees both ongoing and specialized military actions, as well as certain civilian bodies related to the military. Iranian representatives have attended its meetings, showing close coordination with Iran.

Specialized units
- Bader: advanced guerilla warfare training for high-intensity conflicts.
- Aziz: special operations beyond Lebanon; reconnaissance and intelligence gathering; one commander, Hassan Muhammad al-Hajj, was killed in Syria in 2015.
- Haider: quick-reaction force that can move rapidly to counter threats; operates around Baalbeck and northern Hermel.
- Radwan: an elite unit for cross-border raids and precise operations; 2024 commander Ibrahim Aqil and several operatives were killed in a south Beirut strike; the unit is linked to plans for incursions into northern Israel.
- al-Kayim: logistics and support, maintaining transport, supply lines, and communications.
- Unit 133: designated for operations abroad, including planning attacks, sleeper cells, and international intelligence.
- Unit 3800: coordinates and supports pro-Iranian militias across the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iraq; involved in training and arming allied forces.
- Unit 127: the aerial unit, focused on developing and operating drones.