By Nohad Topalian | 2026-10-06

Iran's regime utilizes regional proxies to maintain plausible deniability while avoiding direct accountability for aggressive military engagements across the Middle East.

On September 12, Hizbullah Member of Parliament Ihab Hamade explicitly claimed that Houthi fighters are eager to combat Israel from within Lebanese territory.

He said that the ties between the two groups are no secret and that they hold constant meetings with one another.

This declaration coincides with reports of Houthi officials in Lebanon and confirmed casualties of Yemeni fighters within the southern border region.

The operational relationship between Hizbullah and the Houthis has evolved far beyond mere political support or public media statements of solidarity.

Exposing Iran's central command network

Intelligence confirms extensive joint training sessions conducted across Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran to transfer specialized military and technological expertise.

This coordination allows the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to refine their drone warfare tactics while embedding their influence deeper into the region's diverse conflicts.

"Hizbullah has trained Houthis on weaponizing drones and mastering the deployment of lethal explosives," military expert and retired Brigadier General Marcel Baloukji told Al-Fassel.

"This threat regarding the Houthis constitutes a direct violation of Lebanese sovereignty," Baloukji added, noting it provides the Iranian regime with political leverage.

By coordinating Houthi movements outside Yemen, Tehran reveals the centralized command structure managed the Quds Force of the IRGC.

"Iran operates strategically to seize control of regional security levers through its various armed proxies," said Hassan Qutb, director of the Lebanese Center for Research and Consulting.

Although Tehran frequently denies direct links, the reality on the ground in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen proves this narrative is false.

This systematic interference reveals that these groups are not independent actors but function as extensions of the Iranian state security apparatus.

Undermining hizbullah's national defense narrative

"Hizbullah claims to be a Lebanese force, yet their rhetoric regarding millions of foreign fighters proves they serve Tehran," Qutb said.

The Houthis operate with ideological conviction, serving as expendable assets that the Iranian regime uses to dictate terms during tense geopolitical security negotiations.

IRGC cadres view these fighters as disposable, utilizing them to bolster efforts to force specific outcomes for ceasefires and security zones.

Observers warn that any attempt to bring Houthi fighters into Lebanon will trigger a massive political backlash from the Lebanese public.

Ultimately, these developments provide further evidence that Hizbullah is not a Lebanese force defending the state, but a tool of Iran.

Any effort to weaponize the country with foreign proxies constitutes a severe violation of national sovereignty that the Lebanese people will never accept.