Outdated Video Falsely Circulated as Hezbollah's Radwan Force Eliminating Israeli Soldiers
The Claim
A video shows the moment Hezbollah's Radwan force bombed a group of Israeli soldiers as they crossed the Lebanese border.
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Amid the recent Israeli invasion of Lebanon, social media users widely circulated a video clip alleging to feature the moment Hezbollah's Radwan force bombed a group of Israeli soldiers as they crossed the Lebanese border.
The video went viral across multiple languages, including English, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Azerbaijani.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral footage and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the video making the rounds to be outdated.
Old Footage Misleadingly Shared About the Hezbollah-Israel Conflict
Contrary to social media users' viral claim, the video in question is at least a decade old.
Misbar’s investigative team traced the original footage back to 10 years ago, when it was uploaded to Aparat.com, a popular Iranian platform. The video was shared with the translated caption, “Local news sources in Syria reported that Lebanon’s Hezbollah had managed to kill a group of terrorists.”
The clip, as indicated by the logo in the corner, was originally broadcast by Tasnim TV, a semi-official Iranian news agency.
What Is Hezbollah's “Radwan Force”?
The Radwan Force, one of Hezbollah's most elite military units, was established in 2006 and is known for carrying out special operations. The unit is recognized for its rapid mobility, ability to operate in challenging field conditions, and its support for regional allies, particularly Syria, in line with Hezbollah's broader political strategy.
Radwan Force fighters are at the forefront of Hezbollah's cross-border engagements with Israel.
In January 2024, Israel conducted an airstrike in southern Lebanon, killing senior Hezbollah commander Wissam al-Tawil, also known as “Jawad,” who was the deputy head of a Radwan Force unit. Al-Tawil, 58, played a key role in Hezbollah’s 2006 operation to capture two Israeli soldiers.
In September 2024, Israel launched another targeted strike, this time in a residential area in Beirut’s southern suburbs, resulting in the death of senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil.
Hezbollah confirmed Aqil’s death after Israel claimed responsibility for the attack. Aqil, a leader in the Radwan Force, had a $7 million reward on his head from the U.S. Department of State.
Israel Launched Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon
Israel has announced "limited incursions" into southern Lebanon, with tens of thousands of troops stationed at the border. The Israeli military designated a new closed military zone in northern Israel, the fourth such area since the ground invasion began.
The operation, described by Israel's National Security Cabinet as the “next phase” of its conflict with Hezbollah, marks only the fourth time in nearly 50 years that Israeli troops have officially entered Lebanese territory.
In recent days, IOF airstrikes have resulted in hundreds of deaths, widespread destruction of homes, and the displacement of nearly 1 million people in Lebanon. This latest escalation follows the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike.
On October 7, Israel intensified its air raids on southern Lebanon, deploying 100 aircraft to strike approximately 120 targets within an hour, according to the Israeli military.
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