Israeli intelligence sources warn that Iran is relocating the core of its regional influence from Lebanon, Syria and Gaza to Iraq, following the severe blows its proxy network has suffered over the past two years.
According to a report by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, Tehran has recently doubled its military support for Shi’ite factions in Iraq as preparation for a potential confrontation with Israel. The Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is said to be directly supervising the supply of advanced weapons and new tactical training for these militias.
Iraqi sources cited in the report claim that these Iranian-backed militias have become so powerful that in some regions they now surpass the capabilities of Iraq’s regular army, amid the weakening authority of Baghdad’s central government.
The repositioning effort reflects Tehran’s strategy to rebuild its regional front after setbacks in Lebanon and Syria. While the militias avoided joining the recent Israel-Iran confrontation due to US and Israeli pressure on Baghdad, Iran is reportedly reorganizing its forces to ensure readiness for any future escalation as Iraq prepares for new parliamentary elections.