Unit 3800

Unit 3800 is a specialized unit within Hezbollah, established in 2003 at the request of Iran's Quds Force, with the primary mission of supporting Iraqi Shiite militant groups, particularly during and after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The unit is in charge of training and assisting Shiite militias in Iraq and Yemen. Operating under Hezbollah's Jihad Council, Unit 3800 has playes a pivotal role in expanding Iran's influence through proxy warfare across the Middle East.^[1][2][3][4]

Origins and objectives

Following the U.S. invation to Iraq in 2003, Hezbollah as Iran's proxy formed Unit 3800 and sent elite Hezbollah operatives to Iraq to train local fighters. The unit's primary mission was to train and equip Iraqi Shiite militias, such as the Mahdi Army, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Hezbollah, enhancing their capabilities in guerrilla warfare, kidnappings, and the use of sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs).^[2][3] Some Iraqi militants also received advanced training in Lebanon. The unit then oversaw operations executed against U.S. and coalition forces and provided funds, weapons, and logistical assistance to groups like the Badr Organization, Saraya al-Khorasani, and the al-Mahdi Army.^[2][3]

Expansion to Yemen

Following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, Unit 3800 extended its operations to Yemen, providing training and support to the Houthi movement. The unit's involvement included the transfer of advanced weaponry and the establishment of training programs to inhance the Houthis' military capabilities.^[3]

Leadership

Unit 3800 has been led by senior Hezbollah figures with extensive experience in regional operations. Notably, Khalil Yusif Harb, a veteran operative with a history of coordinating Hezbollah's activities in the Middle East, has been identified as a key leader of the unit. He was appointed in 2012 to lead Unit 3800, further strengthening its capabilities and operational ties with Iranian and other regional militant groups.

Notable personnel

Khalil Yusif Harb

Khalil Yusif Harb, also known as Abu Mustafa and Sayyid Ahmad, is a senior Hezbollah commander who played leadership roles in Units 1800 and Unit 133, later becoming a close advisor to Hassan Nasrallah, the group's former Secretary-General. He has played a critical role in Hezbollah's military and operational activities across the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Yemen, and other regional areas.^[5][6][7] Harb has been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Treasury Department since August 2013 due to his involvement in terrorism and smuggling operations.^[8] Recent reports say he currently serves as Hezbollah's Chief of Staff.^[9][10]

Ali Musa Daqduq

Ali Musa Daqduq was a senior Hezbollah operative who played a pivotal role in expanding the group's influence beyond Lebanon, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Daqduq joined Hezbollah in 1983 and quickly ascended through its ranks.^[11] He commanded a special operations unit known as Department 2800 and was responsible for the personal security of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.^[11] He led Unit 3800 for several years and was captured by U.S. forces in 2007 in Basra, Iraq, for his alleged involvement in a January 2007 attack in Karbala that resulted in the deaths of five American soldiers.^[12][11][13] An Iraqi court released him and in 2019 he was reportedly leading the "Golan File," a Hezbollah unit operating in southern Syria near the Israeli border.^[14] In late 2024, Daqduq was appointed deputy commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force. On November 10, 2024, he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria.^[15]

Haytham Ali Tabatabai

Haytham Ali Tabatabai also known as Abu Ali Tabatabai, is a senior Hezbollah military commander with a significant role in the organization's external operations.^[16] He has been notably involved in Hezbollah's activities in Syria and Yemen, where he commanded special forces units supporting the Assad regime and the Houthi movement, respectively.^[16] He served in Unit 3800 and was deployed to Yemen to support the Houthis before returning to a senior role in Hezbollah’s Radwan Unit.^[4] For his involvement in these conflicts, the U.S. Department of State designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2016 and has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture.^[17]

Impact and significance

Unit 3800 has significantly contributed to Hezbollah's transformation into a transnational actor capable of projecting power beyond Lebanon. By training and equipping allied militias, the unit has enabled Iran to maintain a network of proxy forces that serve its strategic interests across the region.^[18]

See also

• Hezbollah
• Hezbollah armed strength
• Unit 900
• Unit 910