Son of Hezbollah commander behind establishment of Iraqi militias reported killed in Israeli airstrike

[Valin]

FDD Long War Journal

Joe Truzman & Bill Roggio

December 10, 2023

Hassan Ali Daqduq, the son of senior Hezbollah commander Musa Ali Daqduq, was killed in a recent Israeli airstrike in Syria’s Quneitra governorate, according to reports. The elder Daqduq was tasked by Iran and Hezbollah to establish militias in Iraq along the lines of Lebanese Hezbollah. He was successful in his efforts and numerous Iranian-backed Iraqi militias are wielding their strength in Iraq and the region.

Three other individuals affiliated with Hezbollah’s “Golan Unit,” which is also known as Syrian Hezbollah, were killed in the same airstrike. FDD’s Long War Journal could not independently verify the authenticity of the reports.

The Golan Unit is led by Hassan’s father, Musa Ali Daqduq. Hassan’s position within the Golan Unit is unknown. In May of 2023, two U.S. intelligence officials told FDD’s Long War Journal that the Golan Unit was training to attack U.S. forces stationed in Syria. Since Hamas’s brutal attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, Iraq and Syria militias have targeted U.S. bases more than 80 times.

Furthermore, one of the deceased individuals has been identified as Muhammed al-Tamer, a Syrian national and a member of a pro-Assad militia. For the moment, Hezbollah has chosen not to issue an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding Daqduq’s killing, though the organization did release a statement mourning the fallen fighters.

(Snip)