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Israeli Army Reports Killing of Hezbollah Commander Riyad Ghazawi Amid Ongoing Escalation
The Israeli army announced the killing of Riyad Ghazawi, a leader in Hezbollah's al-Ridwan Force, according to a report by Reuters.
On October 30, the Israeli military had already reported the death of Mustafa Ahmed Shahdi, the deputy commander of the al-Ridwan Force, in an airstrike in Nabatieh. Additionally, on October 11, the army announced the killing of Gharib al-Shuja, the commander of the anti-tank missile unit within the same force, during an air raid.
In September, Ibrahim Akeel, the commander of this unit, known as "the elite unit of the party," was killed in an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The "al-Ridwan Force" was formed after the 2006 Israeli war in Lebanon. It is also known as the "Hajj Ridwan Forces" and is described as Hezbollah's "elite forces." The unit was named after its founder, Imad Mughniyeh, following his assassination in 2008.
The al-Ridwan Force participated in public military exercises in May 2023, simulating infiltration operations into Israel. Furthermore, it possesses a stockpile of missiles and other weaponry, with several thousand fighters among its ranks.
One of its primary missions is to infiltrate Israel, especially settlements in the north. There are concerns among some Israeli circles that this force could overrun the Galilee region in the event of a full-scale war.
