# Unit 340

Unit 340 is a specialized division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) responsible for developing and enhancing rocket and missile capabilities for Iran's allies, primarily Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hezbollah. The unit, headed by Hamid Fazeli, focuses on improving the accuracy, range, and destructive power of these weapons. Hamid Faziel also heads Harakat al-Nujaba, a Shiite militia that operates under the direction of the IRGC in Iraq and is responsible for rocket launch against American forces.

## Key activities

Unit 340 operates in several countries, including Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. The Unit tests missiles at the Shahid Shabani camp and at the Semnan ballistic complex following an accord between the IRGC and the Semnan Space Center.
Its main objectives are:

### Developing technological weapons projects, especially rockets and missiles

The unit plays a crucial role in researching and developing advanced military technology, with a specific focus on rockets and missiles. This includes enhancing the precision, range, and destructive capacity of Hezbollah's missile arsenal, which is a key component of the group's deterrence strategy against Israel.

### Empowering proxy forces to manufacture weapons independently

Unit 340 is actively engaged in transferring technical expertise and resources to allied militias and proxy forces, enabling them to manufacture weapons domestically. By localizing production, Hezbollah and its allies reduce their reliance on external arms supplies, thereby increasing their resilience against international sanctions and supply chain disruptions.

### Conducting training for Quds Force proxies in Iran

The unit collaborates closely with Iran's Quds Force, the overseas operations branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It provides specialized training programs for allied fighters, focusing on weapons assembly, drone operations, electronic warfare, and asymmetric combat tactics. These training sessions are conducted in Iran, where operatives gain hands-on experience in advanced warfare techniques.

## Specific projects

The unit is involved in various rocket development projects:

### Improved precision rockets

These have a range of about 85 km, a 50 kg warhead, and a diameter of 225 mm. Their accuracy has been significantly enhanced, with a probable circular error of only a few meters.

### Ashtar rockets

Also known as Burkan, these short-range rockets have a range of over 10 km and carry a 500 kg warhead. They are deployed in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip.

### Jihad rockets

These have a 17-inch diameter, a maximum range of less than 20 km, and a 400 kg warhead.

### Imad rockets

A series of rockets with ranges of 45–100 km and warheads weighing tens of kilograms.

## Sanctions and international attention

Unit 340's activities have drawn international attention, resulting in sanctions and military actions against its operations. The unit's presence in Syria, particularly in areas like Sayyeda Zeinab near Damascus, has been targeted by Israeli airstrikes. In June 2024, the EU adopted a series of sanctions against supporters and facilitators of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) activities, including Ali Morshed Shirazi (born in 1969), a Quds Force official who oversees military operations, who has facilitates the Unit 340 assistance to support PIJ.