A senior figure in Iraq’s Shiite militias, Abu Azrael, has published footage showing armored vehicles preparing for a possible crossing toward the Iranian border. In the video and accompanying remarks, Abu Azrael indicated that the forces are preparing to assist the Iranian regime in suppressing ongoing unrest.
According to his statements, the deployment is intended to support Tehran in dealing with internal protests as well as confronting armed Kurdish groups and Sunni and Arab minority factions.
Abu Azrael is closely associated with al-Hashd al-Shaabi, a network of Iran-backed militias that have played a central role in Iraq and are deeply aligned with the Islamic Republic’s regional agenda.
The footage has raised alarm among regional observers, as it suggests a potential cross-border intervention by Iranian proxy forces at a time of heightened instability inside Iran. Such a move would underscore Tehran’s reliance on allied militias beyond its borders to maintain control and counter perceived threats.
