A former Israeli intelligence official told CNN that there is a “high likelihood” of Iran potentially utilizing militia groups in Iraq to execute a retaliatory strike against Israel. This speculation comes on the heels of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military assets last week.
According to Miri Eisen, a former Israeli military intelligence colonel and current fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, “This approach allows Iran to retaliate while maintaining plausible deniability.” Eisen highlighted that Iraqi militia groups are geographically closer to Iran and remain fully operational, unlike Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is currently under significant pressure and fighting for survival.
A report from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a U.S.-based think tank, notes a rising number of drone attacks launched against Israel by pro-Iranian militias in Iraq in recent months. However, the report added that few of these attempts have successfully impacted Israel due to effective interceptions.
An Israeli military source confirmed that the country is maintaining a “high level of readiness” for a possible Iranian response. However, they noted that Israel is still evaluating Iran’s decision-making process to anticipate the timing and form of any retaliation.
This development follows CNN’s recent report that a high-ranking source within Iran indicated a “definitive and painful” response is imminent in response to Israel’s October 25 attack. While no specific timeline for the retaliation was provided, the source suggested that an attack could occur before the U.S. presidential election day.
