This is how the Islamic Republic of Iran also behaved in Lebanon, through the designated terrorist organization Hezbollah , and in Syria, via its Shi’ite militias. With Hezbollah temporarily subdued and its operations disrupted, Iran has lost its crown jewel proxy in its campaign to pressure Israel ’s northern border. This shift has allowed Israel to. Iran's military proxies -- especially Hezbollah , once considered its most powerful -- have been significantly weakened by Israel and no longer pose a serious threat , according to military and. Iran has also increasingly signaled its willingness to directly attack Israel in response to the Israeli threat to Hezbollah , and the Israeli response to Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack will risk further escalation between the two regional powers. Many hardline conservatives in Iran are growing uneasy about its lack of action as Israel targets the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah , their country’s closest and most long-standing ally. Only a few years ago, Iran and its allies were at their height of power and influence . The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was the most powerful military and political force in Lebanon. While Israel aims to curb Iran ' s regional military influence , Iran has announced plans to increase its military budget by 200%. This escalation raises fears of open conflict and places Iran's ballistic missile program at the center of international scrutiny, as detailed below. Hezbollah was Vital to Iran’s ‘Strategic Depth’: For decades, Iran invested heavily in Hezbollah and other regional armed groups as an extraterritorial deterrent to U.S. And Israeli threats against the Islamic Republic. Recent statements by Islamic Republic officials indicate Tehran’s staunch commitment to rebuilding Hezbollah ’s capabilities and achieving “final victory.” These threats may signal a renewed escalation in the region after Israel ’s crippling blow to Iran’s missile arsenal and the collapse of the Islamic Republic’s Syrian ally. Hezbollah in Lebanon wields tens of thousands of Iranian - supplied rockets and poses a persistent threat to northern Israel. In Yemen and Syria, proxies continue to test Israeli and international resolve, reinforcing the need for sustained vigilance and adaptive military and diplomatic strategies.
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