By Noureddine Omar | 2026-02-19

Iranian regime's support for its proxies again exposes several regional countries to war and insecurity, threatening their people and institutions.

Despite some proxy groups being abandoned, especially in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, the risk posed by militias remains a concern.

On January 16, the Iraqi armed group Kataib Hizbullah threatened to strike US bases in Iraq and the region.

The group said this action would be in response to any US military operation against the Iranian regime.

Kataib Hizbullah official Abu Talib al-Saidi threatened to use the group’s missiles and drones.

Al-Saidi, whose group the US designated a terrorist organization in 2009, made this statement at a rally outside the Iranian embassy in Baghdad.

He warned that Kataib Hizbullah is part of the US-Iran conflict, adding that, "we will not remain neutral, our hands are on our weapons."

Failure of Iranian regime's strategy

Regime's proxy network has collapsed, marked by Hizbullah's complete defeat in Syria and the regime's abandonment of Hamas in Gaza and Hizbullah in Lebanon.

Remaining proxies, including the Houthis in Yemen and Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq, are also degraded.

Strikes on Islamic regime's nuclear and ballistic missile sites also exposed the lies about its power.

Following the decline of Lebanese Hizbullah's influence and its compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 for a ceasefire, the focus has shifted.

"Iran is now relying on the remaining proxies, specifically Iraqi Hizbullah, since the Lebanese group was the primary and pivotal force," Sheyar Turko, an expert on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) told Al-Fassel.

The potential for Iraqi proxies to attack US facilities and bases presents serious risks and potential consequences for the Iraqi population.

"It will have negative repercussions for the Iraqis themselves, ending a considerable period of calm and security enjoyed by distancing the country from these conflicts," Turko said.

Vulnerability of Iranian regime

The continued threat from the proxies and their backers in Tehran will be ineffective due to the regime's vulnerability.

"Iranian power primarily rested on the strength and influence of its proxies in their local and regional environments," Lebanese military expert Jamil Abu Hamdan told Al-Fassel.

"This support is now completely unavailable, consequently weakening the Iranian regime itself," he added.

Tehran's vulnerability was exposed by direct attacks on Israel on April 13 and October 1, 2024, shifting from its typical reliance on proxies.

These strikes caused only minor damage, thanks to US military support and advanced missile defense, thus underscoring the Iranian arsenal's weakness.

"The counter-military capabilities of the United States have degraded the Iranian capabilities and highlighted their fragility," Abu Hamdan said.