Israeli media say Iran arming Iraqi militias for possible conflict
Iran is supplying Shi’ite militias in Iraq with more advanced weapons in preparation for a possible new round of fighting with Israel, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.
Iran is supplying Shi’ite militias in Iraq with more advanced weapons in preparation for a possible new round of fighting with Israel, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.
Citing Iraqi sources familiar with the matter, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan Reshet Bet said Tehran had stepped up arms transfers to allied groups in Iraq following losses suffered by Iran-backed factions in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
The report said Iran appeared to be shifting the focus of its regional military influence toward Iraqi militias.
The station said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force was training fighters for potential coordinated ground and air operations, while the groups themselves feared strikes from Israel and the United States.
The sources said the militias take orders from Tehran more than from Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who has sought to keep his country out of regional escalation.
Reports in Israeli outlets including Walla and The Jerusalem Post last week said the Israel Defense Forces and intelligence agencies were preparing for possible attacks by Iranian-aligned groups in Iraq.
The Post said Tehran was investing resources to strengthen these militias and establish what it called “terror infrastructure” capable of striking Israel when ordered.
Iranian Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani visited Iraq late in October for talks with senior militia leaders.
Al-Sudani said earlier this year that his government had blocked dozens of attempted attacks by Iran-backed groups during the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June.
In an interview with the Associated Press, he said Baghdad must carefully balance relations with both Washington and Tehran.
Crowds gathered across the country waving national flags and portraits of Iran’s leaders to observe what officials call the National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance.
The annual event, organized by state institutions, commemorates the November 4, 1979 takeover of the US embassy by militant students who held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, leading to the rupture of diplomatic ties between Tehran and Washington.
Marchers, including students, public employees and members of the military, chanted slogans against the United States and Israel in Tehran and major cities.
State television showed large gatherings in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz, describing the turnout as a show of national unity and defiance following the recent confrontation.
In Tehran, organizers also showcased models of Iran’s ballistic missiles and nuclear centrifuges, which state media said symbolized the country’s technological progress and deterrent capability.
In the capital, demonstrators moved from Palestine Square to the site of the former US embassy, where the ceremony concluded with speeches, patriotic songs and the reading of a closing resolution denouncing Western sanctions and reaffirming support for Palestinians.
Officials stress independence and unity
Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who joined the rally and delivered the main speech, said the anniversary symbolized Iran’s resolve to remain independent and resist what he called domination by foreign powers.
He said the country’s independence could not be “traded for any concession” and that “Death to America” was a rejection of hegemony, not hostility toward a nation.
Ghalibaf cited the 1953 coup against Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and the 1964 exile of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as examples of past interference, arguing that Iran’s self-reliance in defense, science and technology was its safeguard against renewed pressure.
Former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezaei told reporters that Iran’s message to adversaries was one of “resistance and readiness,” saying the nation would respond firmly to any renewed threat.
Resolution reaffirms resistance policy
At the close of the Tehran rally, a statement read aloud by organizers reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to what it called “rational resistance” against Western powers and support for Palestinians in Gaza.
The text rejected any compromise with the United States or Israel, urging national cohesion and stronger economic management at home.
The declaration also stressed that Iran’s defense and nuclear program were integral to national sovereignty and called on government institutions to curb inflation and address public grievances.
