Representatives of Tehran-backed factions and analysts say thousands of fighters from Iran-backed groups in the Middle East are ready to go to Lebanon to fight against Israel on the side of Hezbollah if the simmering conflict escalates into full-scale war, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
From the bloody attack of "Hamas" against southern Israel on October 7, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip, there are daily exchanges of fire along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The situation worsened this month after an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon. In response, the Lebanese Shiite group attacked northern Israel with hundreds of rockets and drones.
Israel threatened Lebanon that if "Hezbollah" does not withdraw its forces from the border, it will launch a military offensive.
Iran-backed fighters from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan fought together on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the 13-year conflict. Representatives of Tehran-linked militias said they would unite against Israel as well.
On Wednesday, the leader of "Hezbollah" Hassan Nasrallah warned that leaders of paramilitary groups from Iran, Iraq. Syria, Yemen and other countries have already offered him to send tens of thousands of fighters to Lebanon.
Furthermore, Nasrallah indicated that currently in the ranks of "Hezbollah" there are over 100,000 people. "We told them – thank you, but we are currently overwhelmed by the number we have," Nasrallah continued. According to him, the current battles are in such a shape that only part of the manpower of "Hezbollah" participates in them. This is apparently a reference to the specialized fighters who launch missiles and drones, AP notes.
But if a full-scale war breaks out, there will be a significant change in the number of combatants involved in active combat. Nasrallah hinted at this possibility as early as 2017. Then the leader of the Shiite movement stated that in a similar war "Hezbollah" will have "partners" from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thousands of such fighters are currently stationed on the territory of Syria and their transfer across the border will be an easy task.