In a targeted strike overnight, several senior figures in the ‘Imam Hussein’ division were eliminated. This militia is equivalent to Hezbollah in Lebanon and also operates under Iranian patronage. Among those eliminated was Ali Massalam Tabaja, the force commander.
Tabaja was considered a central figure in the division’s activities against Israel and served as a liaison between Hezbollah and elements of the pro-Iranian axis. In the past, he served in various roles within Hezbollah and ‘Imam Hussein’, including as deputy commander. In the past year, he was involved in the organization’s rehabilitation efforts following the previous round of fighting.
Alongside Tabaja, Jihad Al-Safira, the division’s deputy commander, and Sajad Al-Handasa, responsible for its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) array, were also eliminated, along with other commanders.
Volunteer Fighters from Afghanistan – and Operations Alongside Assad
‘Imam Hussein’ was founded during the Syrian civil war at the initiative of the former Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani. His vision was to create a multinational fighting force of Shiite fighters who would operate to advance Iran’s interests in various Middle Eastern arenas.
The militia force is comprised of fighters from several countries, including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Initially, it operated primarily in Syrian territory alongside Bashar al-Assad’s regime, as part of the Iranian effort to preserve power and establish a military presence in the country.
Archive Photo
In recent years, and especially after Operation ‘Northern Arrows’ and the fall of the Assad regime, the division’s activities have gradually shifted to Lebanon. There, it operates alongside Hezbollah and other Shiite militias supported by Iran.
The framework participates in ground combat, establishing operational infrastructure, and defending strategic assets, as well as launching rockets and UAVs towards Israel. Among other incidents, it was attributed with involvement in a drone strike on a school in Eilat in November 2023.
During Operation ‘Northern Arrows’, the division took an active part in fighting from Lebanese territory in coordination with Hezbollah. The elimination of the command echelon tonight represents another blow to one of the multinational frameworks that Iran has built and operated in the northern arena.
