Liwa al-Imam al-Mahdi
| Liwa al-Imam al-Mahdi | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Al-Hajj Waleed |
| Leaders | Al-Hajj Waleed Abu Al-Hadi (Rani Jaber) Al-Saffah Abu Ali Karrar |
| Dates of operation | 2016-2024 |
| Dissolved | 2024 |
| Country |  Ba'athist Syria |
| Allegiance |  Iran (IRGC) |
| Headquarters | Homs |
| Part of | Syrian Hezbollah |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War |
Liwa al-Imam al-Mahdi (Arabic: لواء الإمام المهدي, romanized: Imam Mahdi Brigade), named after the twelfth and final Shia Imam, Mahdi, was a sub group of Hezbollah's Syria branch.[1][2] It was active until 2024.
Subgroups
[edit]This group had at least 2 sub-groups namely the Imam Ali Battalion and the Special Operations al-Hadi Battalion. The al-Hadi Battalion claimed to have 2 squadrons with each respectively being led by its own commanders. The first led by “al-Saffah” and the second led by “Abu Ali Karar”.[1]
Leaders
[edit]Abu Hadi, was the leader of the al-Hadi Battalion. His real name was Rani Jaber and he was a Syrian from Deraa.[1]
The leader of this group al-Hajj Waleed was a Lebanese national and was from Ba’albek in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon.[1]
According to him Liwa al-Imam al-Mahdi was set up in 2014 by Hezbollah and has recruits from all over Syria. He also said that the group has participated in a number of battles, including Deraa, Quneitra, Ghouta, Aleppo and the Ithiriya-Raqqa route.[1]
Losses
[edit]Al-Hajj Waleed gave his toll of killed at 25 and wounded at 55.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (July 23, 2016). "Liwa al-Imam al-Mahdi: A Syrian Hezbollah Formation". Middle East Forum.
- ^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "Liwa al-Imam al-Mahdi: A Syrian Hezbollah Formation". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Retrieved 2025-08-27.