This page is subject to the extended confirmed restriction related to the Arab-Israeli conflict.Unit 121 is Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah's covert assassination team reporting directly to the group's Secretary-General.
The unit has conducted deadly car bombings targeting Lebanese military and political leaders and journalists, including former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, law enforcement officer Wissam Eid, military officials Wissam al-Hassan and François al-Hajj, diplomat Mohamad Chatah, and political activist Lokman Slim.
Unit 121 is the covert assassination team of the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, operating under the direct authority of the group's Secretary-General.
Its operations are strictly conducted with prior approval from Hezbollah's leadership, reflecting the group's disciplined organizational structure.
Hezbollah employs targeted killings to eliminate rivals and perceived threats, using its ranks of skilled bombmakers and a sophisticated command system designed to shield senior officials from accountability.
[3] On 18 August 2020, the STL convicted Salim Jamil Ayyash, the unit's commander, in absentia for leading the team that carried out the attack.
[7][8][9] He is best known for his indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as one of the major individuals involved in the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Harir.
Oneissi was one of the key members heading Unit 121 who played a major role in the planning and assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
On June 20, 2020 he was sentenced in absenti at the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon for life imprisonment and international arrest warrants were issued against him.
The attack sparked widespread protests and political upheaval, leading to Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon after being widely accused of involvement.
In 2020, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon convicted Salim Jamil Ayyash, a major Hezbollah operative in absentia for orchestrating the assassination.
Hawi's assassination deepened political divisions and fueled demands for an end to foreign interference in Lebanese affairs.
His assassination further escalated tensions and was widely seen as part of a string of politically motivated killings by Hezbollah and its supporters targeting anti-Syrian voices.
A staunch opponent of Syrian influence in Lebanon, his killing occurred amid political turmoil and was seen as an attack on the country's pro-independence movement.
Gemayel's assassination deepened the crisis between rival political factions and fueled fears of renewed civil strife.
The attack was part of a series of violent incidents targeting prominent figures amid heightened political tensions in the country.
Known for his opposition to Syrian influence and his support for Lebanese independence, Eido's killing occurred during a period of escalating political and sectarian tensions.
Dagher, who was the head of the Army's Intelligence Division in Mount Lebanon, had been involved in efforts to curb sectarian violence.
Renowned for his critiques of sectarianism and imperialism, Hamdan was a key figure in advancing progressive thought during Lebanon's civil war.
Daoud's assassination reflected the volatile security environment in southern Lebanon amid ongoing struggles for control and influence.