Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed the IDF Northern Command on Wednesday, informing them of their success in eliminating half of the brigade-level commanders of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. He emphasized that these are brigade-level commanders, not battalion-level commanders. The IDF had previously announced the elimination of six Hezbollah brigade-level commanders and over 30 battalion-level commanders.
Hezbollah, with an estimated force size of 50,000-100,000, including its weaker militias and the elite Radwan force, has a similar command structure to Hamas. Hamas has five brigade commanders for a force of 35,000-40,000. This suggests that Hezbollah could have 10-15 brigade-level commanders. One source estimates the number to be around 15, while another indicates that Hezbollah’s structure differs from Hamas, with the Radwan forces having a separate command structure.
According to sources, the rank of brigade commander in Hezbollah may not hold the same significance as in other organizations. There are individuals who are less replaceable as leaders compared to those who have risen through the ranks based on seniority and service time. Nonetheless, the IDF has successfully eliminated a significant number of senior Hezbollah commanders, along with dozens of junior commanders (estimated to be at least 50-75, assuming Hezbollah has a similar number as Hamas’s 24 battalion commanders). This represents a substantial weakening of Hezbollah’s leadership.
