The IDF and Mossad are preparing for a developing threat against Israel from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, sources in the Northern Command told Walla on Friday.
The Iranians have been investing significant resources in pro-Iranian militias and terrorist infrastructure in Iraq, so that, on the day of command, they can attack Israel from the air and by land.
It was further reported that recently, Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), visited Iraq and met with senior militia leaders.
The main method of attack would likely involve launching missiles and drones from Iraqi territory, following a pattern similar to the one used during the Israel-Hamas war against Israel’s home front.
A secondary option could be a ground maneuver beginning in Iraq, moving through Syria, and potentially reaching the Israel-Jordan border.
IRGC-QF supports the powerful and influential militia Kataib Hezbollah, one of several groups operating under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Kataib Hezbollah is considered the most prominent of these militias due to its political influence and extensive arsenal, which includes long-range drones. In the past, it has targeted US forces in the region.
The group also controls key smuggling routes from Iraq to Syria, and, according to assessments, its operatives are responsible for smuggling weapons.
Israel Air Force previously struck militia-affiliated sites on Iraq's border
During Operation Rising Lion, the Israel Air Force struck logistical centers in Iran on the Iraq border that serve the militias in Iraq with Iranian funding.
The newly established 96th "Gilad" Division, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Oren Simcha, later rehearsed this scenario along the Jordan Valley border.
The Iranians have also succeeded in carrying out attacks against Israel, similar to the Houthis in Yemen, using several Iraqi militias that operated under a generic name to conceal their identities.
According to foreign reports, the IAF, with assistance from Mossad, conducted strikes in the area to deter both the militias and the Iraqi government.
Israeli sources add that clear and threatening messages were conveyed from Israel to the Iraqi government through the United States and other channels.
According to open sources, one of the militias that has become an additional source of concern is Harakat al-Nujaba. This militia maintains close ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon and has previously claimed responsibility for several missile launches.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.