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reference news reported on september 22israel has long viewed hezbollah, which has thousands of well-trained fighters and a large number of rockets and other weapons, as its most formidable enemy on its borders, according to a report on the new york times website on september 20. israeli officials say hezbollah's elite radwan force poses a particular threat.

the radwan force has played a leading role in hezbollah's long-running conflict with israel. it has also been the vanguard of escalating cross-border attacks against israel since the outbreak of the gaza war in october last year. israeli military analysts say the radwan force has been tasked with conquering israel's northern galilee region.

“the radwan forces are determined to replicate what happened in southern israel on october 7 last year in the north,” retired general tamir heyman, who led israel’s military intelligence until 2021, said in an interview in january. “that is why it is impossible for israel to allow its fighters to remain in the border area.”

in 2023, radwan’s forces took part in a rare public military exercise by hezbollah that showcased its vast arsenal and simulated an infiltration of israeli territory. hezbollah-produced propaganda videos showed the group’s small-unit tactics and live-fire exercises, interspersed with threats against israel.

the report said that israel once regarded the radwan force as a controllable threat, but now describes it as a more serious threat. israeli leaders have mentioned the name of the radwan force many times. as early as december last year, israeli national security advisor tsashi hanegbi told the media that israel could no longer accept the radwan force staying on the border.

the origin and composition of the unit are unclear.

its name reportedly comes from the alias of former leader imad mughniyeh, who was assassinated in syria in 2008. under his command, the unit played a key role in the 2006 kidnapping of israeli soldiers that led to the second lebanon war.

the unit later joined other hezbollah units and other iranian-backed groups in the fight against the islamic state in syria. but the past three months have been the most active period for radwan's unit against israel since 2006.