Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, proxy armed groups operating against Israel – Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Palestine – have emerged as key factors reshaping the region’s security balance. Although these groups operate in different geographies, their coordinated and multi-layered pressure on Israel increases the risk of a broader regional escalation.
Speaking to ARB24 Television, political analyst Ahmad Shahidov stated that these groups use rockets, drones, border provocations, and disruptions of maritime routes to create a multi-front threat for Israel: “Hezbollah’s presence along the Lebanese border and its large arsenal represents the most serious military risk for Israel. The Houthis exert indirect pressure by targeting international trade routes in the Red Sea, while Hamas maintains instability in southern Israel through asymmetric tactics”.
Ahmad Shahidov also emphasized that although these groups are linked to Iran, they are not fully under Tehran’s control: “Even if a potential agreement is reached between the United States and Iran, these groups will not completely cease their activities. They will continue to pose a threat to Israel based on their own ideological agendas. At the same time, neither the United States nor Israel will engage in direct negotiations with these proxy forces, as doing so would legitimize them, which contradicts Western strategic policy.”
