Tehran is increasing its support for Shiite militias in Iraq in anticipation of a potential future conflict with Israel, according to a report Tuesday on Israel’s Kan radio.
Citing several Iraqi sources familiar with the matter, the report said that following recent blows suffered by the pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, Tehran is shifting its strategic focus toward strengthening its proxies in Iraq.
These militias are reportedly receiving more advanced weaponry as part of this renewed effort, the report said.
The sources suggested that Iran is preparing these Iraqi factions for potential action against Israel should hostilities resume.
According to the Kan report, the militias now wield greater power than the Iraqi army in some regions and largely take their orders from Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force rather than from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
The militias did not launch attacks against Israel during its war with Iran in June. That restraint was reportedly the result of pressure from the Baghdad government and warnings by both Israel and the United States.
Iraq is set to hold parliamentary elections on November 11. However, expectations remain low that they will lead to any significant changes in the state's control over armed groups.
Last week, an Iraqi political source told Haaretz that Shiites in Iraq are afraid of Sunni cities rebelling against the government after what happened with the Assad regime in Syria that was ousted by opposition factions in December.
The newspaper said this is another reason why the militias are decreasing their military activities in the country.
The Israeli Maariv newspaper also stated that Iran is building a new strategic approach towards Iraq, known as the two-track policy, amid increasing Western pressure against Tehran’s influence in the region, and the cautious calm in its conflict with Israel and the US.
Foreign News Reporter at Maariv, Eli Leon, wrote an article suggesting that in the next war, missiles will not be launched on Israel by Yemen’s Houthis or Lebanon’s Hezbollah, but from Iraq.
Leon wrote that the IRGC has initiated informal channels of communication with select Shiite armed factions, with the aim of studying transition scenarios from “resistance activity” to full “political participation.”
He said Iran’s long-term goal is to build a stable and low-cost influence within Iraqi state institutions.
Currently, Israel is not focusing on Iraqi militias but on Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper wrote that the Israeli Security Cabinet held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday to assess possible military responses to Hezbollah’s repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement along the Lebanese border, amid growing concerns over the group’s renewed activity and the Lebanese army’s inability to disarm it.
The meeting, attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, coalition party leaders and senior defense officials, focused on Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild its capabilities, particularly in areas south of the Litani River, in violation of UN Resolution 1701.
Israeli army officials presented several operational options, including intensified strikes on Hezbollah targets.
These proposals are expected to be submitted for Cabinet approval soon, though their implementation will depend on several factors, including diplomatic discussions with the United States and the Lebanese government, as well as broader regional developments.
The article, written by Amir Ettinger and Yoav Zitun, said that since the ceasefire with Hamas came into effect last month, defense officials say Hezbollah has grown bolder, increasing the movement of operatives and commanders near the border.
The group is reportedly working to restore damaged infrastructure, rebuild rocket launchers and reestablish weapons production capabilities, including drones, the article said.
It added that while Israel has conducted near-daily strikes to prevent Hezbollah’s buildup, military officials acknowledge the trend has not been reversed.
“The group is believed to still possess tens of thousands of rockets, missiles and drones, along with a large number of armed operatives,” the article said.
