Hezbollah faces historic losses amid escalating conflict with Israel

AP unveils that Hezbollah is facing one of the most challenging periods in its history, grappling with significant losses and heightened military tensions.

Hezbollah has faced some of the most significant losses in its history over the past two weeks, notably including the death of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike. Two weeks ago, a large number of communications devices used by Hezbollah members detonated, resulting in 39 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries in what Hezbollah attributed to a remotely detonated attack by Israel. Since the beginning of its assaults on Israeli military positions in support of Hamas last October, Hezbollah has lost nearly 500 fighters, with hundreds more likely killed during Israel's bombardment of Lebanon in the past week, which has also claimed the lives of several high-ranking commanders.

Despite these losses, Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets into central Israel. The group’s spokesperson, Mohammed Afif, warned on Tuesday that these attacks were just the beginning, stating that Hezbollah is prepared to confront invading forces if they enter Lebanon. Iran, a supporter of Hezbollah, launched dozens of missiles into Israel on October 1, mentioning Nasrallah’s death in a statement on state television claiming responsibility for the attack.

This bombardment occurred a day after Israel announced it had initiated limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's tens of thousands of fighters have gained extensive combat experience from regional conflicts, particularly in Syria, where the group played a crucial role in bolstering President Bashar Assad's position during the 13-year civil war. Hezbollah is organized into five main units, each consisting of several thousand fighters. 

The Nasr and Aziz units are stationed near the Israeli border, with Nasr controlling the southeastern region, including the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, and Aziz positioned in the southwest along the Mediterranean coast. Although commanders of the Nasr and Aziz units were killed in Israeli airstrikes earlier this year, they are believed to have been replaced. The Badr unit is stationed in the Apple province, a mountainous area that has been a Hezbollah stronghold since the late 1980s and overlooks significant parts of southern Lebanon. 

The Haidar unit operates in the eastern Bekaa Valley, while the Dahiyeh unit is located in the densely populated southern suburb of Beirut, which housed the group's headquarters where Nasrallah was killed. Hezbollah also has the elite Radwan Force, comprising several thousand fighters, some of whom are positioned along the Israeli border. According to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, invading Israeli troops will encounter the experienced Radwan fighters if they attempt a ground invasion. Recently, Hezbollah has lost several of its most seasoned military leaders, including Ibrahim Akil, the head of the Radwan Force, and Ibrahim Kobbeisi, who commanded the group’s missile operations. Other notable losses include Mohammed Surour, the commander of Hezbollah's drone unit, and Ali Karaki, who oversaw Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon. 

By Naila Huseynova