Numerous combatants from Iran-supported groups in the Middle East are prepared to travel to Lebanon to unite with the militant Hezbollah organization in its conflict with Israel if the ongoing tension transforms into a full-fledged war, as stated by officials from Iran-supported factions and analysts.
Almost daily clashes have taken place along the border between Lebanon and northern Israel since fighters from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip launched a violent attack on southern Israel in early October, sparking a conflict in Gaza.
The situation in the north deteriorated this month following an Israeli airstrike that resulted in the death of a senior Hezbollah military commander in southern Lebanon. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and explosive drones into northern Israel.
Israeli authorities have warned of a potential military operation in Lebanon if there is no diplomatic resolution to push Hezbollah away from the border.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stated in a speech on Wednesday that militant leaders from various countries, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, had offered to send tens of thousands of fighters to support Hezbollah. However, Nasrallah mentioned that the group already has more than 100,000 fighters and politely declined the additional assistance.
Nasrallah emphasized that the current battle is utilizing only a fraction of Hezbollah's manpower, particularly referring to the specialized fighters responsible for launching missiles and drones. Nevertheless, he hinted at the possibility of a shift in manpower allocation in the event of an all-out war. In a speech back in 2017, Nasrallah suggested that fighters from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan could potentially become involved as partners in such a conflict.
Officials from Lebanese and Iraqi groups supported by Iran have stated that if a war were to occur on the Lebanon-Israel border, Iran-backed fighters from various regions would join in. Currently, there are already numerous fighters deployed in Syria, making it easy for them to cross the porous and unmarked border.
Certain groups have already carried out attacks on Israel and its allies since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7th. These groups, part of the "axis of resistance," claim to be employing a strategy of unity across different arenas. They have declared that they will only cease fighting once Israel ends its offensive against their ally, Hamas, in Gaza.
An anonymous official from an Iran-backed group in Iraq, speaking to The Associated Press in Baghdad, emphasized that they would stand alongside Hezbollah in the event of an all-out war. However, the official declined to provide further details.
Both the Iraqi official and another official from Iraq mentioned that some advisors from Iraq are already present in Lebanon.
Similarly, an anonymous official from a Lebanese Iran-backed group confirmed that fighters from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, Afghanistan's Fatimiyoun, Pakistan's Zeinabiyoun, and the Iran-backed rebel group are involved.
Qassim Qassir, a Hezbollah expert, concurred that the ongoing conflict primarily relies on advanced technology like missile launches and does not necessarily require a large number of combatants. However, in the event of a prolonged war, Hezbollah may require external support beyond Lebanon, he noted.
Indicating this possibility could serve as a signal that these are resources that could be utilized, he added.
Israel is also cognizant of the potential arrival of foreign fighters.
Eran Etzion, former head of policy planning at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed during a panel discussion organized by the Middle East Institute in Washington on Thursday that he envisions a "high likelihood" of a "multi-front war."
He mentioned the potential involvement of the Houthis and Iraqi militias, as well as a significant influx of jihadists from regions like Afghanistan, and Pakistan, into Lebanon and the Syrian territories adjacent to Israel.
Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for Israel's military, stated on television last week that Hezbollah has launched over 5,000 rockets, anti-tank missiles, and drones towards Israel since the attacks began on October 8th
Hagari warned that Hezbollah's escalating aggression could lead to a broader conflict with severe consequences for Lebanon and the entire region. He emphasized that Israel will continue to combat Iran's influence on all fronts.
While Hezbollah officials have expressed a desire to avoid a full-scale war with Israel, they have also made it clear that they are prepared for any eventuality.
Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's deputy leader, stated in a recent speech that they have decided to respond to any Israeli expansion with a deterrent that inflicts heavy losses on Israel, regardless of the scale of the initial move.
The U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the commander of the U.N. peacekeeping force stationed along Lebanon’s southern border, Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, emphasized in a joint statement the significant risk of miscalculation leading to a sudden and broader conflict.
The most recent major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah took place in the summer of 2006, resulting in a 34-day war that claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 individuals in Lebanon and 140 in Israel.
Since the outbreak of recent clashes, over 400 individuals have lost their lives in Lebanon, with the majority being combatants, although this figure includes 70 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed. The conflict has also led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
According to Qassir, an analyst, the involvement of foreign fighters could be facilitated by their previous experience fighting together in Syria. "There is a shared military strategy among the forces of the resistance axis, which could prove crucial in engaging in a unified battle," he stated.
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