Iran's Unit 840 Against Israel Gets New Commander

Iran's Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani has appointed a new head for Unit 840, a clandestine unit of the Revolutionary Guards that has reportedly been targeting Israeli and American interests, as well as regime opponents. The unit, recently renamed Unit 600 following the exposure of its structure and operatives, is now led by Majtaba Haq-Lasan, 64, who previously served as the unit's intelligence chief.

Haq-Lasan replaces Yazdan Mir, known by the nickname "Haj Asgar Bakri," who was killed in April in an attack attributed to Israel. The renaming to Unit 600 is intended to allow the unit to continue its operations under a new organizational framework after its previous structure was revealed.

According to reports from Iran International, a new command chart indicates that Mohammad-Reza Ansari has been appointed as Haq-Lasan's deputy and is responsible for the "Israel portfolio." Other appointments include Morteza Babaei overseeing operations in the Americas and Europe, Martaza Babaei managing activities in the Middle East and Africa, and Javad Sharafi in charge of operations in Asia.

Sources close to the Quds Force suggest that the appointment of former officials to key positions indicates a command crisis within the unit, stemming from the elimination or exposure of senior commanders. Doubts have also arisen within the organization regarding the Revolutionary Guards' ability to effectively continue operating the unit.

Unit 840 was reportedly established in the early 2010s under the direction of the then-Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. It originated from Unit 400, a special operations unit that worked closely with Hezbollah. Over the years, the unit has been linked to alleged attempts to harm senior American officials, Israelis, and Iranian dissidents. In 2022, the U.S. Justice Department stated that a Revolutionary Guards member had planned to assassinate former National Security Advisor John Bolton, with guidance from Mohammad-Reza Ansari, who is now designated as Unit 600's deputy commander. Later reports also mentioned thwarted plots against former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and two Israeli businessmen.

The unit has also reportedly utilized criminals and drug traffickers for operations across Europe and the Middle East, as well as local criminal elements. Incidents cited include attempted attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, and a plot targeting two British channel journalists.