Unit 18000 is a division of the

Quds Force The Quds Force () is one of five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It specializes in unconventional warfare and military intelligence operations. U.S. Army's Iraq War General Stanley McChrystal describes the Quds Fo ...

, the elite extraterritorial arm of Iran's

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khom ...

(IRGC). Led by IRGC commander Ali Hassan Mahdavi, the unit coordinates military activities and logistical support to bolster Iranian influence in the region Operating primarily within

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 ...

, the unit plays a critical role in the transportation and coordination of illicit goods, including weapons and military equipment, to bolster Iran’s regional proxies and strategic interests.

Key activities

Coordination of Shipments

Unit 18000 oversees the organization and logistics of smuggling operations, ensuring the delivery of weapons and other contraband to Iranian-backed groups, such as Hezbollah and other militias operating in Syria and neighboring regions. These activities are a key component of Iran’s broader efforts to expand its influence in the Middle East.

Collaboration with other Quds Force units

The unit works closely with other divisions within the Quds Force in transporting weapons to Iranian proxies in Syria,

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

, the

West Bank The West Bank is located on the western bank of the Jordan River and is the larger of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the Gaza Strip) that make up the State of Palestine. A landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...

and Gaza. Together, with units such as Unit 190 that is Responsible for transportation logistics and arms smuggling,

Unit 700 Unit 700 is a covert logistics and smuggling division within the Quds Force, the external operations arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Established to facilitate the transfer of military equipment and support to Iran’s regio ...

, that Specializes in smuggling supplies under various guises to evade detection and unit 340 headed by Hamid Fazeli, this unit is involved in supporting armed groups intending to destabilize Israel, particularly overseeing rocket launches by Harakat Al-Nujaba. These collaborations form an extensive logistical network that supports Iran’s military and geopolitical objectives in Syria and beyond.

Use of humanitarian cover

Unit 18000 has been implicated in using

humanitarian aid Humanitarian aid is material and Humanitarian Logistics, logistic assistance, usually in the short-term, to people in need. Among the people in need are the homelessness, homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines. Th ...

missions as a cover for covert arms transfers. Notably, during the aftermath of the February 2023 Syrian earthquake, the unit reportedly facilitated the smuggling of military equipment under the guise of aid deliveries. Such tactics have enabled the Quds Force to circumvent international sanctions and scrutiny while continuing to reinforce Iran's regional proxies.

Leadership

The unit is reportedly led by Commander Hassan Mahdavi, who plays a pivotal role in coordinating these covert operations. Under his leadership, Unit 18000 has been instrumental in sustaining Iran’s influence in Syria and the broader

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

. One other leader was Mohammad Reza Zahedi who was killed in the 2024 Iranian consulate airstrike in Damascus.

Strategic importance

Unit 18000 exemplifies the Quds Force’s strategy of leveraging clandestine operations to expand Iran’s influence across the Middle East while evading international oversight. By utilizing covert smuggling networks and humanitarian disguises, the unit continues to support Iran’s military and political objectives in the region.

References

{{Reflist Quds Force Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers Military of Iran Axis of Resistance Iranian security organisations Iran–United States relations