Iranian proxies have established a “resistance operations room” to help Hamas during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, Iraqi sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday.
A senior commander in an Iraqi faction engaged in reconnaissance in Lebanon said the Israeli army postponed its ground operation in Gaza in anticipation of any reaction from the Iran proxies.
On Sunday, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that the leaders of several Iraqi factions loyal to Iran have headed to Syria and Lebanon in wake of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The sources said the leaders were accompanied by groups of fighters, whose task, at the moment, seems aimed at assessing the situation on the ground and following up with groups in Syria and Lebanon along border regions.
Confirming the reports, activists close to the Iraqi factions were circulating photos of their commanders currently present in Lebanon, including a photo of the leader of Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Abu Alaa al-Walae, reportedly seen at the Lebanese border.
Meanwhile, the senior Iraqi commander told Asharq Al-Awsat that the resistance factions in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were engaged with Hamas in a joint operations room, which has been regularly receiving updates on the situation at the borders. “We feel that something will happen soon,” the commander said.
Asharq Al-Awsat received information saying Iranian officers were involved in establishing the operations room with the help of their proxies in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
According to the Iraqi commander, contacts intensified in the past few hours between all factions and Iran after fighters were deployed in different areas near the border.
However, he ruled out “a traditional confrontation with the Israelis in case they carry out their ground attack.”
The commander, who wished to remain anonymous, said “Israel postponed its ground attack when it realized that Hamas is not alone in this battle.”
However, members of the Coordination Framework in Iraq, despite their eagerness for an armed and open confrontation with Israel, revealed that Iran is currently waging a “media war more than taking actual actions on the ground.”
Nevertheless, they did not rule out the possible “anti-Israel operations” taking place on the ground.
Meanwhile, two leaders from the pro-Iran Badr movement and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq confirmed that Iraqi factions are moving at the front between Lebanon and Syria. One leader said developments there are in line with a plan developed by Iran and supervised by Hezbollah.
