Khalil Yusif Harb
Khalil Yusif Harb | |
|---|---|
| Born | Khalil Yusif Harb 9 October 1958 Lebanon |
Khalil Yusif Harb, (Arabic: خليل يوسف حرب born October 9, 1958) also known as Abu Mustafa and Sayyid Ahmad, is a senior Hezbollah commander and was a close advisor to Hassan Nasrallah, the group's 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. 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. Recent reports say he currently serves as Hezbollah's Chief of Staff.
Roles and Contributions
From 1988 to 1992, Harb served as the deputy commander of Hezbollah's central military unit in Southern Lebanon.[1] He was later promoted to commander of the same unit, a position he held until 1994. Between 1994 and 1997, he oversaw Hezbollah's central military operations, managing activities not only within Lebanon but also extending into Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, and Turkey.[1][2] During the 2006 Lebanon War, Harb commanded Hezbollah's special operations unit and directed engagements against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Harb also led Hezbollah's Unit 1800, (also known as the Nun Unit), which focused on supporting Palestinian militants and coordinating external operations in countries surrounding Israel.[1] He later assumed command of Unit 3800, tasked with overseeing Hezbollah's involvement in Yemen and Iraq. In this role, he facilitated weapons transfers and training programs for Iran-backed Shia militias, particularly the Houthi movement in Yemen, with whom he began establishing closer ties in 2012.[1][3][4]
Advisor to Nasrallah
In 2010, Harb was appointed as an advisor to Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, a position that granted him broad oversight of operational units, including Unit 1800. He has played a significant role in managing Hezbollah's relations with Palestinian factions and the Islamic Republic of Iran. His responsibilities have reportedly included planning retaliatory attacks against Israeli officials following the assassination of Imad Mughniyah in 2008.
Yemen activities
Since 2012, Harb has been involved in transferring substantial sums of money to political allies in Yemen, often through financial networks operating in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.[4] He has also advised pro-Hezbollah political parties in Yemen. In addition to his military and political roles, Harb has been linked to smuggling operations involving weapons, narcotics, and other resources intended to finance Hezbollah's activities. In June 2021, the IDF seized materials valued at approximately two million shekels believed to be part of Harb's smuggling network.[5][6]
Designation as a Global Terrorist
On August 22, 2013, the United States Department of the Treasury designated Harb as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. This designation froze his assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibited U.S. persons from conducting financial transactions with him.[2] In May 2015, Saudi Arabia also sanctioned Harb for his role in supporting Houthi rebels in Yemen and his involvement in regional terrorist activities.[7][8]
Hezbollah's Chief of Staff
According to recent report within Lebanon, Khalil Yusif Harb currently servers as Hezbollah's Chief of Stuff and has full control over the party's military operations.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Leadership". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ a b Barnett, David (2013-08-22). "Treasury designates 4 members of Hezbollah's leadership". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Leverage Beyond Yemen: Ansar Allah and Its Iraqi Alliances". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ a b LEVITT, MATTHEW (2021). "HEZBOLLAH'S REGIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF IRAN'S PROXY NETWORKS".
- ^ Sharawi, David Daoud & Ahmad (2024-10-02). "Analysis: The impact of Israeli operations on Hezbollah's organizational structure". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Missiles and Rockets of Hezbollah". Missile Threat. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Khalil Yusif Harb – Rewards For Justice". Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Office of Foreign Assets Control" (PDF). 2013.
- ^ المُحرِر (2025-03-27). "#خليل_حرب : قائد العمليات العسكرية لـ"#حزب_الله" والهدف الرئيسي لـ"#إسرائيل" - بوابة بيروت" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-03-27.