BEIRUT, Lebanon – The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is garnering attention as thousands of fighters from Iran-backed groups across the Middle East stand ready to support Hezbollah in battle. Analysts and officials from Iran-backed factions are observing the situation closely, noting the potential for escalation into a full-blown war.
Tensions have been mounting along the Lebanon-Israel border with frequent skirmishes erupting following a violent attack on southern Israel by fighters from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The situation escalated this month after an airstrike by Israel killed a senior Hezbollah military commander in southern Lebanon, prompting Hezbollah to retaliate with rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel.
Israeli officials have warned of a military offensive in Lebanon if Hezbollah does not retreat from the border. Over the past decade, Iran-backed fighters from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have collaborated in conflicts in Syria, which may lead to their united support for Hezbollah against Israel.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, revealed that militant leaders from various countries have offered to send tens of thousands of fighters to support Hezbollah in the conflict. However, Nasrallah indicated that Hezbollah already boasts more than 100,000 fighters and could potentially receive additional support if needed for an all-out war.
Officials from Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Iraq have suggested that fighters from different regions could join the conflict if it intensifies. Iranian-backed groups have already shown solidarity with Hezbollah by attacking Israel and its allies since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in early October.
Despite the current focus on advanced weaponry and specialized fighters by Hezbollah, experts believe that in the event of a prolonged conflict, support from external sources may become crucial. With the possibility of foreign fighters entering the fray, there is growing concern over the potential for a multi-front war, as indicated by Israeli officials.
As the situation continues to escalate, the risk of a wider conflict looms large, with fears of miscalculations leading to devastating consequences for Lebanon and the region as a whole. The memory of the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah serves as a stark reminder of the potential human toll of such confrontations.