'Iran can defend itself': Tehran's proxies left on the substitute bench
As the conflict between Israel and Iran dramatically escalates, with the US considering whether to intervene to back its long-time ally, a pressing question has emerged: will Tehran's proxies rush to the rescue of their patron?
Hostilities between Iran and Israel have reached unprecedented levels, entering a seventh day of confrontation, after Israel launched attacks last Friday on Iran claiming to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The strikes prompted a series of retaliatory missile barrages from Iran.
Sources in Iran's proxy groups have shared differing views on whether they will join the fight with Iran. A Hezbollah source says it will remain on the sidelines, regardless of whether the US intervenes, while Yemen's Houthi rebels are the only proxy to have announced attacks against Israel in support of Iran.
The proxy groups, however, have stressed their autonomy from Tehran.
The so-called Axis of Resistance is an Iran-led network that includes Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq, whose aim is to deter Israel from conducting military action and countering its influence in the region. Many of these groups have fought against Iran's enemies in their respective countries.
The groups launched attacks against Israel as part of a support campaign for Hamas and the Palestinian people after the Gaza war broke out on October 7, 2023. But months of fighting with Israel, which holds clear military dominance, has considerably eroded the operational capacity of the axis.
Hezbollah, once a formidable militia and Iran's most powerful proxy, was battered by nearly 14 months of conflict with Israel that ended in November, leaving much of its chain of command dismantled and its arsenal decimated. The group has made it clear that it does not intend to take part in any retaliatory action to support Iran.
Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah described Iran as a 'key regional power' that is capable of defending itself, in an interview with pro-Hezbollah outlet Al Mayadeen. 'It does not ask others to fight on its behalf,' he said.
The group is under pressure to disarm and faces growing discontent from those in Lebanon who accuse it of dragging the cash-strapped country into a war it could not afford, and causing damage worth several billion dollars.
Once a kingmaker, Hezbollah is now grappling with a loss of influence within the Lebanese political scene. A Lebanese official told The National that the army sent a message to Hezbollah, urging it not to intervene in the Iran-Israel conflict and warning against dragging the country into yet another devastating war. 'They said they wouldn't,' the official said.
'We're doing everything we can, calls, meetings, to prevent any escalation,' the official added. 'This is not our war."
Some fear a potential US intervention against Iran might compel Hezbollah to join the fight. Statements attributed to an Iranian official suggested that, if the US became directly involved – an idea President Donald Trump has been publicly floating for days – Hezbollah would join forces with Tehran.
A Hezbollah source firmly denied the claim. 'I don't think the statement is true … who is this source? Iran can defend itself,' the source told The National. The sources confirmed that it was a Hezbollah decision, not an Iranian decision. 'Unfortunately the media fabricates fake news."
Cautious but ready
In Iraq, which is home to several Tehran-backed militias that, unlike Hezbollah, remain largely intact, a senior militant leader told The National that the decision to open a front would depend 'on developments".
'The current situation calls for caution and wisdom, but also readiness to respond if Iran comes under full-scale attack,' he said.
The militant said US intervention could be a game-changer in how the groups perceive their role in the conflict. 'We advise the United States not to get involved in the war – it has tried before and ended in failure," he said. "Any American aggression against Iran will directly affect Iraq, and Iraqis have the right to defend their sovereignty, religious beliefs and dignity."
He warned that any attempt at regime change in Iran – which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown increasing interest in, beyond merely destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities – would lead to regional chaos.
'Iraq lies between two blazing arenas, and the resistance factions will not stand idly by," he added.
Yemen's Houthis are the only proxy group to have announced joint military co-operation with Tehran since the recent escalation. The Houthis have launched attacks against Israel and ships in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.
On Sunday, the group said it fired ballistic missiles at Israel in support of 'the oppressed Palestinian and Iranian peoples".
A Yemeni source in the capital Sanaa said there was 'no joint operations room between the Iranians and the Houthis", but rather continued co-ordination.
'When Houthis are required to strike, they carry out the strike independently," the source added. "This is what we've observed in the nature of their operations. This is also what Sanaa and Iranian officials have affirmed since the beginning of the operations, that Yemen acts on its own, deciding when it is in its interest to escalate, de-escalate, or strike a particular area."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
25 minutes ago
- Gulf Today
Israel is preparing to destroy the fortified Fordow nuclear facility with ‘commando teams'
Israel is prepared to carry out a unilateral strike on Iran's heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, according to a senior Israeli military official cited by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. 'Israel has a plan for Fordow and the capability to execute it independently,' the unnamed official said, though no specific operational details were provided. The Fordow facility, located roughly 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the city of Qom in north-central Iran, is built deep within the mountains, posing a formidable challenge to any conventional military assault. Ehud Eilam, a former Israeli Defense Ministry researcher, suggested that Israel may consider deploying numerous small penetrator bombs designed to breach fortified underground structures. He also referenced previous Israeli operations, such as the reported assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a subterranean Beirut bunker last September, as examples of Israel's ability to strike hardened targets. 'Israel could also pursue alternative tactics,' Eilam added, 'including high-risk commando raids, cyberattacks, or targeted assassinations.' Fordow is considered one of Iran's most sensitive nuclear sites. Israel maintains that Iran is nearing the capability to produce a nuclear weapon—an accusation Tehran has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes. Tensions between the two nations have surged since last Friday, when Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian territory, targeting both military and nuclear sites. In response, Iran retaliated with a barrage of missiles. According to Israeli authorities, the Iranian attacks have killed at least 24 people and injured hundreds more. Iranian media, in turn, report that Israel's retaliatory strikes have left 585 dead and over 1,300 wounded.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Benjamin Netanyahu bemoans postponement of son's wedding due to Iran war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war with Iran has reached into his own household, disclosing that his son's wedding had to be postponed. 'This war has not spared my family either,' he said in a televised address at the location of a missile attack that devastated the area. 'This is the second time my son, Avner, has been sent away, due to a threat from the sea and missile warnings. His wedding had to be postponed – clearly, a very personal cost.' Mr Netanyahu's comments came as Israel grapples with rising casualties and mounting pressure on the home front. Around him were hundreds of Israelis whose homes had been damaged, while dozens were injured. Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last Friday, killing hundreds of Iranians. In response, Tehran fired missiles at Israeli targets and residential areas, killing at least 24 people, injuring dozens more and causing widespread destruction. Mr Netanyahu, who has long cast himself as a wartime leader, appeared to be appealing to a sense of collective sacrifice. Though some Israelis saw Mr Netanyahu's remarks as an attempt to personalise the national struggle, many others derided them as misplaced and self-serving. 'I know many families who were not forced to postpone a wedding, but who will now never celebrate the weddings that were once meant to take place,' said Gilad Kariv, a Knesset member.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Ballistic missiles 'keywords' at Paris Air Show as Israel-Iran conflict looms large
The Israel-Iran conflict loomed large over the Paris Air Show this week, accelerating talks on defence products and forcing airlines to suspend routes to the Middle East. The conflict brought a sense of urgency to the defence discussions at the event, which showcases the latest technology in defence and commercial aviation. 'Because of the geopolitical context and what is currently happening in the [Middle East] and a bit in Europe, a keyword here is ballistic and anti-ballistic [missiles],' Hervé Dammann, executive vice president of land and air systems at Thales, told The National on the sidelines of the show. 'How can we make sure our countries are protected well enough against ballistic and hypersonic threats – the two kinds of missiles that are currently believed to be in use in the Middle East? This is really the key topic of discussion: What do you need to detect, what do you need to intercept and which kind of system can be used. 'The mood here is the need to accelerate and implement those kind of capabilities. For the industry, it means that we need to be agile and ramp up production capacity. We need to find ways to accelerate putting solutions in the market, maybe in an incremental approach rather than waiting for having developed a full solution,' Mr Dammann said. In response to increasing customer demand, Thales has tripled the production of sensors in radars and quadrupled the production of effectors, he said. 'We are continuing to invest in support of the higher demand requests we have coming from many [ministries of defence], whether in the Middle East or in Europe or in Asia,' the Thales executive said. On the first day of the show, France's move to shut down the main Israeli company stands for refusing to remove attack weapons from display sparked a furious response from Israel. The show, which ends on Friday, displayed cutting-edge military technology and staged flight demonstrations that ripped through Le Bourget's blue skies. They were also a stark reminder of military capabilities used to deadly effect thousands of kilometres away in Tehran and Israel. 'We see it more as citizens at the moment: it is extremely worrying to see tensions and escalation in this region of the world,' Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defence and Space, said at a press briefing during the air show. 'For ethical reasons, I would say we refrain from making business interpretation out of it. Now, it is true that it is one more sign of an escalation somewhere in the world, which, overall, in military volumes, is leading the volumes up.' The European plane maker is pursuing potential new buyers, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, for its A400M military transport aircraft. Mr Dumont said there are 'quite intense' discussions with the UAE's air force, Tawazun and defence entities in the government. 'The discussions are very, very constructive,' he said. 'Now, it's a competition. The one who's going to win will be the supplier of the mobility of the future for the UAE. We believe we have the right solution, having an aircraft that is the strategic and tactical one.' Flight disruptions In the skies beyond Le Bourget airport, some US airlines began suspending daily flights to Gulf countries amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. American Airlines on Thursday suspended daily flights from Philadelphia to Doha until June 22. United Airlines temporarily halted services between its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Dubai and aims to resume 'when it's safe', according to its website. American Airlines' move comes after the US embassy in Qatar advised its personnel and US citizens in the country to 'keep a low profile' and 'stay alert' at locations publicly associated with the US. 'Out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities, the US Embassy has advised its personnel to exercise increased vigilance and has temporarily restricted access to Al Udeid Air Base. We recommend that US citizens in Qatar take similar precautions,' it said in a statement on its website. The US airlines' flight suspensions are the first disruptions on the doorstep of some of the region's busiest air hubs. Previous flight suspensions were limited to Israel, the countries surrounding it and the airspace above countries where Iranian missiles pass. Dubai and Doha are home to Emirates and Qatar Airways that use their strategic locations for long-haul travel, connecting passengers between the US, Europe and Asia. Emirates has suspended all flights to Amman and Beirut until June 22. Flight suspensions to Tehran, Baghdad and Basra will continue until June 30. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier flyadeal said it is experiencing only minimal disruptions. 'We've not had any significant impact as a result of airspace closure in parts of the region. While our flights to and from Amman have been cancelled until further notice, operationally, we're only experiencing minor disruptions with changes to flight routings on a few services to avoid the affected areas,' Steven Greenway, flyadeal's chief executive, told The National. 'With the upcoming peak summer season, we are preparing for a busy flying programme that will maximise our fleet utilisation.' The Israel-Iran attacks are the latest global conflict to ratchet up airlines' security concerns, while weighing on their operations and profitability. Airlines are grappling with airspace closures, threats from missiles, drones and GPS jamming. 'The big topics that we are facing is the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), so we see more and more … areas where the signal is not available or is spoofed,' Denis Bonnet, head of innovation research and technology at Thales, told reporters. 'We are working very hard with our [original equipment manufacturers] to make sure that we are more resilient to this … so it's becoming safer and safer.' The number of global positioning system (GPS) signal loss events increased by 220 per cent between 2021 and 2024, according to International Air Transport Association data. It is 'difficult to see this trend reversing in the near term', Iata said in a statement this week. Thales' flight management system, installed on more than 7,000 planes and cumulating more than 100 million flight hours, allows pilots to modify the flight trajectory quickly and simply, Mr Bonnet said. 'The capability we try to bring to airlines is to detect those threat areas and modify the trajectory … usually we prefer to do this before take-off,' he said. Another key topic is the use of satellite communications onboard aircraft, particularly in remote areas. 'When there is this huge tension between Israel and Iran, a lot of aircraft has to be re-routed and [satellite communications] have been absolutely vital to connect the crew in areas that are not really well covered by connectivity,' Mr Bonnet said. Airbus aircraft orders This Paris Air Show was unusually subdued following Air India's Boeing 787 crash, which created a sombre mood and kept Boeing's leadership away to focus on the accident investigation. Airbus secured firm orders for 142 aircraft. This does not include the six Airbus A350-900 announced by Egyptair at the show as this was a previously unidentified customer on Airbus' previous order reports. It also recorded 102 provisional orders that would increase its haul if airline customers choose to exercise those options. The firm orders are worth $14.2 billion including Egyptair's deal, plus 102 provisional orders worth $6.7 billion, Reuters reported, citing estimated delivery prices from UK-based Cirium Ascend. The air show is usually a hard-fought competition between the duopoly of plane makers. But Boeing had a quiet show as it chose to postpone any commercial announcements following the Air India crash just a few days before the expo. The 787 Dreamliner crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on June 12, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and at least 30 more people on the ground. Air India's Boeing plane was 'well-maintained' before it crashed a week ago, AFP reported, citing an airline statement on Thursday. Indian authorities have yet to reveal the cause of the crash as investigators work to retrieve data from the plane's black boxes – the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder.
