In the past few weeks, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have launched approximately 40 strikes against Israel using missiles, drones, and rockets, marking a notable escalation in the ongoing proxy conflict across the Middle East. Following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iran appears to be mobilizing lesser factions to support regional operations against Israel. Israel, in response, has intensified airstrikes against Iranian-affiliated targets in Syria, signaling a significant shift in the confrontations between these entities.
In recent weeks, Iranian-affiliated militias in Iraq have intensified their assaults on Israel, conducting approximately 40 operations involving missiles, drones, and rockets within a span of two and a half weeks. This escalation marks a significant surge in a covert proxy battle that has unfolded across the Middle East since the onset of hostilities in Gaza. Data from the Washington Institute indicates that these attacks have notably increased following Israel’s airstrike on September 27, which resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah, established with support from Iran over four decades ago, remains a central figure in the coalition of militant factions sponsored by Tehran. As Hamas has been severely impacted by prolonged warfare in Gaza and Hezbollah faces a relentless Israeli offensive in Lebanon, Iran appears to be resorting to lesser-known factions within its militant network to express opposition to Israel. Michael Knights, a prominent analyst at the Washington Institute focusing on militias across Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, remarked, “The number of missiles and drones being fired from Iraq [at Israel] has gone through the roof. They’ve moved into a higher gear to demonstrate their support for Hezbollah.” The missile fire from Iraq is indicative of Iran’s broader strategy of utilizing its regional allies to uphold solidarity against Israel while fostering competition among these factions. Analysts note that the Iraqi militias, although less formidable than Hezbollah, are maneuvering to assert their relevance in light of their more aggressive counterparts such as the Houthis, who have also targeted Israel with missile attacks and disrupted maritime operations in the Red Sea. In response to intensified threats, Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes and one significant ground operation in Syria, targeting Iranian-backed militant groups to disrupt their supply lines to Hezbollah. This year, Israeli operations have heightened in frequency post-October 7, following a significant attack by Hamas into southern Israel. In a separate incident attributed to an Israeli sabotage operation, thousands of Hezbollah-issued pagers detonated, potentially revealing critical affiliations and communications within the organization. Kirsten Fontenrose, an Atlantic Council expert, commented that the incident provided valuable insight into the extensive networks of Hezbollah across the region. As the conflict escalates, Israel’s strategic reprisals have targeted numerous Iranian-linked facilities in Syria, including a weapons production site in Masyaf, and have executed strikes on key military and industrial locations in Homs, Latakia, and Damascus, resulting in significant casualties within Hezbollah ranks.
The current situation in Iraq represents a complex web of geopolitical tensions involving Iran, its proxy militias, and Israel. Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict in October, Iranian-affiliated groups have increasingly sought to assert their military capabilities against Israel. This hostilities contribute to a larger narrative of Iran leveraging various militant factions across the Middle East, including groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, to combat its adversaries. The background context includes Iran’s historical support for Hezbollah and the ongoing challenges faced by these groups as they navigate the threats posed by Israeli military actions in the region. This dynamic emphasizes Iran’s reliance on its network of militias and its strategic calculus as regional conflicts unfold.
The intensification of missile and drone attacks from Iranian-linked militias in Iraq against Israel signifies a new phase in the ongoing proxy conflict in the Middle East. With Hezbollah and Hamas experiencing diminished military capacity, these junior factions have ramped up their operations to fill the void and assert their role in the resistance against Israel. As Israel continues its retaliatory strikes against Iranian interests in Syria, the intricate relationships among various militant groups underscore the evolving geopolitical landscape, revealing the critical need for comprehensive monitoring and analysis of this multifaceted conflict.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
