Iraqi militant group threatens to launch attack on Israel if Gaza war spread to Lebanon

Iraqi Militant group has warned that they are ready to put up a fight against Israel and the United States if the war in Gaza spread to Lebanon.

This threat was made known by the field commander of the so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq, saying that there would be “escalation for escalation” in the event of a full-scale war in Lebanon.

The commander, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the Iran-backed group had already sent “experts and advisors” to Lebanon.

Iraqi political scientist Ali al-Baidar agreed that a major war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, if it happens, “will not be limited to Lebanese territory”.

“In Iraq and in the region armed groups will enter into the confrontation,” he said, adding that they would want to show “their abilities, but also their loyalty” to their allies.

The bloodiest-ever Gaza war broke out when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7.

The conflict quickly widened to involve several pro-Iran armed groups in the so-called “Axis of Resistance” expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and demanding an end of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

The alliance includes Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who have attacked Israel and Israeli-linked shipping, but also armed groups in Syria and Iraq.

In recent weeks, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for drone strikes against targets in Israel, labelling many of them “joint operations” with the Huthis.

The Israeli army, without naming an attacker, has confirmed several aerial attacks from the east since April, but has said they were all intercepted before entering its airspace.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has previously shown its willingness to launch attacks.

Last winter, it carried out more than 175 rocket and drone strikes against US troops based in Iraq and Syria as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition.

On Sunday, the so-called Coordination of the Iraqi Resistance issued further threats against Israel and Israel’s top ally the United States.

Citing the threat of “total war against Lebanon”, it warned that “if the Zionists (Israelis) carry out their threats, the pace and scale of operations targeting them will intensify”.

It added that “the interests of the American enemy” in Iraq and around the region would also be “legitimate targets”.

The group includes the Hezbollah Brigades, Al-Nujaba and the Sayyed al-Shuhada Brigades, all of whom are under US sanctions.

Al-Baidar noted the past experience of “operations and attacks against American forces and diplomatic missions” in Iraq.

“It is possible these attacks will repeat themselves with greater intensity,” he said.

The US military — which has some 2,500 troops deployed in Iraq and 900 in Syria with the international coalition — responded with deadly strikes against pro-Iran factions and has vowed to retaliate if attacked again.

“We will not hesitate to take all appropriate actions to protect our personnel,” a State Department spokesperson told AFP, requesting anonymity.

“Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq undermine Iraq’s sovereignty by conducting unauthorised attacks against third countries, potentially making Iraq a party to a larger regional conflict.”