Israel is surrounded by Iran-backed fighting groups
Hezbollah enjoys strong alliances with the Iran-led axis of fighting groups which span Gaza, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, with Iran providing weapons and training to Hezbollah. The groups have increased coordination since the October 7 attack.
Iran-backed groups in the Middle East
TURKEY
IRAQ
LEBANON
SYRIA
ISRAEL
IRAN
JORD.
GAZA
PAKISTAN
Kuwait
EGYPT
SAUDI
ARABIA
BAHRAIN
UAE
OMAN
QATAR
SUDAN
Red
Sea
YEMEN
Lebanon
Hezbollah is the most powerful militia in the
region; it is armed, trained and funded by Iran.
Iran
Iran exerts considerable influence over armed
groups across the Middle East, with differing
levels of control over each. Iran and Israel have
carried out direct attacks on each other's
territories more than once.
Syria
Iran has a direct presence in Syria, and wields
significant influence over several Shiite militias.
In April, Iran and Israel exchanged direct strikes
after Israel struck Iran’s consulate in Damascus.
Iraq
Iraq is home to the Popular Mobilization Units
(PMU), an umbrella group of predominantly
Shiite Iran-backed paramilitary forces that
includes the powerful Kataib Hezbollah.
Yemen
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been striking
ships in the Red Sea, disrupting global shipping
as part of what they say is revenge for Israel's
war against Hamas.
Gaza
Iran backs Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic
Jihad group, which have launched attacks on
Israel.
Iran-backed groups in the Middle East
TURKEY
LEBANON
IRAQ
SYRIA
ISRAEL
IRAN
JORD.
GAZA
PAKISTAN
Kuwait
EGYPT
BAHRAIN
SAUDI
ARABIA
UAE
OMAN
QATAR
SUDAN
Red
Sea
YEMEN
Lebanon
Hezbollah is the most powerful militia in the region; it
is armed, trained and funded by Iran.
Iran
Iran exerts considerable influence over armed groups
across the Middle East, with differing levels of control
over each. Iran and Israel have carried out direct attacks
on each other's territories more than once.
Syria
Iran has a direct presence in Syria, and wields significant influence over several Shiite militias. In April, Iran and Israel exchanged direct strikes after Israel struck Iran’s consulate in Damascus.
Iraq
Iraq is home to the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU),
an umbrella group of predominantly Shiite Iran-backed
paramilitary forces that includes the powerful Kataib
Hezbollah.
Yemen
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been striking ships in
the Red Sea, disrupting global shipping as part of what
they say is revenge for Israel's war against Hamas.
Gaza
Iran backs Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
group, which have launched attacks on Israel.
Iran-backed groups in the Middle East
Iraq
Iraq is home to the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), an umbrella group of predominantly Shiite Iran-backed paramilitary forces that includes the powerful Kataib Hezbollah.
Syria
Iran has a direct presence in Syria, and wields significant influence over several Shiite militias. In April, Iran and Israel exchanged direct strikes after a strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
TURKEY
Iran
Iran exerts considerable influence
over armed groups across the Middle
East, with differing levels of control
over each. Iran and Israel have carried
out direct attacks on each other's
territories more than once.
Lebanon
Hezbollah is the most powerful militia in the region; it is armed, trained and funded by Iran.
LEBANON
SYRIA
IRAQ
ISRAEL
IRAN
JORDAN
GAZA
Gaza
Iran backs Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which have launched attacks on Israel.
PAKISTAN
Kuwait
BAHRAIN
SAUDI
ARABIA
Qatar
UAE
OMAN
SUDAN
Red
Sea
Yemen
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been striking ships in the Red Sea, disrupting global shipping as part of what they say is revenge for Israel's war against Hamas.
YEMEN
