2As tensions escalate between Israel and its regional rivals, thousands of fighters from Iran-backed groups in the Middle East are poised to join forces with the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon, if a full-blown war erupts. The scenario is fueled by a series of escalating conflicts, including Israel’s airstrikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets, and the deadly clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
The situation on the Lebanon-Israel border has become increasingly hostile, with both sides exchanging heavy fire. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has fired hundreds of rockets and explosive drones into northern Israel, prompting Israeli threats of a military offensive to push the group away from the border. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed fighters from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have been fighting together in Syria’s 13-year conflict, helping to tip the balance in favor of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly offered to accept the support of tens of thousands of fighters from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and other countries, despite already having over 100,000 fighters at his disposal. Nasrallah has hinted at the possibility of a full-scale war, in which forces from across the region would join forces with Hezbollah to fight against Israel.
Hezbollah group in Lebanon
Iran-backed groups, including those from Lebanon and Iraq, have confirmed that they would join forces with Hezbollah if war breaks out. Thousands of fighters are already deployed in Syria and could easily slip across the porous border into Lebanon. Some groups have already staged attacks on Israel and its allies since the conflict began, using a “unity of arenas strategy” to gain the upper hand.
Analysts predict a high probability of a multi-front war, with potential intervention by the Houthis and Iraqi militias, as well as a massive flow of jihadists from Afghanistan and Pakistan into Lebanon and Syrian areas bordering Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have warned that they will continue to fight against Iran’s “axis of evil” on all fronts, highlighting the devastating consequences that could unfold if an all-out war occurs.
The situation is fraught with danger, as both sides seem committed to their respective causes, with no clear indication of a peaceful resolution in sight. As the standoff escalates, the risks of a wider regional conflict grow, threatening to engulf not only the Middle East but the world at large.
