Iran-Backed Groups Operating in the Middle East as U.S. Forces Come Under Attack
President Biden vows to respond after a drone strike kills three U.S. soldiers at a small American base near the Jordan-Syria border. An Iran-backed group claimed responsibility for the attack. Learn more about this group and its connections to Iran.
Iran's Proxy Groups in the Middle East
There are approximately 40 militant groups in the Middle East that are backed by Iran. These groups include the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Houthis have been disrupting global trade by targeting ships in the Red Sea, while Hezbollah has been engaging in conflicts with Israeli troops along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The group believed to be behind the attack on the U.S. base, called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, is based in the Syria-Jordan border region. While some of the groups under this umbrella focus on smuggling activities, others are prepared to launch attacks against domestic and international forces in the region.
The main goal of these Iran-backed militant groups is to support the survival of the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad. They also closely monitor U.S. activities in the region, as the U.S. has supported Syrian opposition groups during the civil war. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq openly acknowledges its allegiance to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran's Support for the Groups
Iran has different relationships with each of these militant groups and provides support in various ways. Some groups, such as the Houthis, are directly funded and operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Other groups have their own structures but rely on Iran for support, including weapons, funding, and capabilities.
The IRGC plays a significant role in influencing the overall strategy of these groups. One of the crucial things Iran offers is advanced weaponry, like the drones used in the attack on the U.S. base.
The attack on Tower 22 is seen as an escalation by these groups, who view it as connected to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. They perceive the U.S. presence and support for Israel as a reason to escalate against the U.S. as well.
U.S. Response and Future Implications
President Biden has vowed to retaliate for the attack on the U.S. soldiers. The U.S. National Security Council emphasized the importance of defending its deployed forces in the region, while also aiming to avoid a broader conflict.
Some militias within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have already evacuated their bases in Iraq and Syria, anticipating potential U.S. retaliatory strikes. Although Iran denies direct participation in the attack, they may tolerate lower-level militants escalating against the U.S. and Israel.
Efforts are focused on preventing a wider war in the region, but the situation remains tense, with the U.S. prepared to take necessary actions to protect its forces.
