Aziz Unit is one of

Hezbollah Hezbollah ( ; , , ) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese Parliament. I ...

's primary military divisions, responsible for operations in the western sector of

Southern Lebanon Southern Lebanon () is the area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. The two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s. The Rashaya and Western Beqaa districts, the southernmost distr ...

, extending from the coastal areas near Tyre to the

Bint Jbeil Bint Jbeil (; Levantine pronunciation: , "daughter of (the) little mountain" or "daughter of Byblos") is the second largest municipality in the Nabatiye Governorate in Southern Lebanon. The Baydoun Family are known to be the best family out of ...

region, up to the

Litani River The Litani River (), the classical Leontes (), is an important water resource in southern Lebanon. The river rises in the fertile Beqaa Valley, west of Baalbek, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea north of Tyre. Exceeding in length, the ...

. Established to oversee and coordinate military activities in this strategic area, the unit plays a pivotal role in Hezbollah's defense and offensive strategies along the border with Israel.

Organizational Structure and Responsibilities

Hezbollah's military framework in southern Lebanon is divided into several regional units, each tasked with specific territorial responsibilities: Aziz Unit: Aziz Unit anages the western sector, including key locations such as Tyre and its surrounding areas. Nasr Unit Nasr Unit oversees the eastern sector, encompassing regions from Bint Jbeil to the Syrian border. Badr Unit: Badr Unit controls areas north of the Litani River, including regions near

Sidon Sidon ( ) or better known as Saida ( ; ) is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast in the South Governorate, Lebanon, South Governorate, of which it is the capital. Tyre, Lebanon, Tyre, t ...

. These units operate under Hezbollah's

Jihad Council The Jihad Council of Hezbollah is a council responsible for directing the groups' military and security activities. It also exercises considerable influence over the organization's various civilian branches and maintains ties with external partner ...

, which directs the group's military and security activities.

Leadership and Operational History

In 2016, Muhammad Naama Nasser, also known as Hajj Abu Naama, assumed command of the Aziz Unit following the death of his predecessor,

Hassan Muhammad al-Haj Hassan, Hasan, Hassane, Haasana, Hassaan, Asan, Hassun, Hasun, Hassen, Hasson or Hasani may refer to: People *Hassan (given name), Arabic given name and a list of people with that given name *Hassan (surname), Arabic, Jewish, Irish, and Scotti ...

, in

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

. Nasser had extensive combat experience, participating in numerous operations against Israel and involvement in conflicts in Syria and

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

. Under his leadership, the Aziz Unit was responsible for orchestrating and executing attacks against Israeli targets, including the firing of rockets and anti-tank missiles into Israeli territory. On July 3, 2024, Nasser was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his vehicle in the al-Housh area near Tyre. His death marked a significant blow to Hezbollah's command structure in southern Lebanon, as he was one of the most senior commanders eliminated during the ongoing conflict. Following his death, Hezbollah conducted retaliatory attacks, including launching rockets and explosive drones toward Israeli military positions.

Strategic Significance

The Aziz Unit's control over the western sector of southern Lebanon grants Hezbollah strategic access to coastal regions and proximity to Israeli border areas. This positioning facilitates the group's ability to launch attacks and maintain a presence along critical points of the Israel-Lebanon border. The unit's activities have been central to Hezbollah's military engagements, reflecting its importance within the organization's broader operational framework.

Recent Developments

The elimination of key leaders like Nasser has prompted Hezbollah to reassess and reinforce its command structures within units such as Aziz. Despite these losses, the group continues to maintain its operational capabilities in the region, indicating a resilience and adaptability in its military strategies. The ongoing dynamics in southern Lebanon underscore the volatile nature of the area and the pivotal role units like Aziz play in the broader context of Middle Eastern geopolitics.

References

{{reflist Hezbollah Jihadist groups Lebanon Islamic terrorism in Lebanon Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)

Organizational Structure and Responsibilities

Leadership and Operational History

Strategic Significance

Recent Developments

See also

References