Real or Overhyped? Israel’s Encirclement by Iran-Allied Militias

Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, the Iranian media has widely reported on attacks by Iran’s allies and proxies against Israel. While no real threat to the survival of the Jewish state, the attacks serve to create a sense of encirclement in Israel, which explains why Iran’s state-censored media, particularly mouthpieces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, focuses on militia provocations against Israel.

• March 21: IRGC mouthpiece Tasnim News, quoting Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, wrote:
  • “The Zionist genocide is proof of their crimes … The genocide is also a proof of the moral collapse … of the United States, the self-declared leader of the civilized world.”
  • Turning to specific targets in Israel, the Houthi leader continued: “Umm Al-Rashrash port, called Eilat by the enemy, has become totally crippled, and this impacts their economy … Last week, we launched 18 ballistic missiles and drones in support of Gaza. In total, we have so far launched 479 missiles and drones in support of Gaza. The Americans have put us under pressure to stop our operations in defense of Gaza, but America is the greatest murderer and destroyer in history. We have plans to deal harder blows to the Israeli enemy in the future.”
• March 21: IRGC mouthpiece Mashregh News, commenting on Iraqi Shia militia drone attacks against Israel, wrote:
  • “An informed source based in the war theater, discussing the aerial drone operations of the Iraqi resistance, said, ‘In the latest operation, the resistance not only destroyed Zionist air defense systems, but their systems also failed to detect the aerial drone … The Zionists constantly brag about their air defense capabilities, but the inefficacy of their systems is now apparent to all.’”

The views represented herein are the author's or speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AGSI, its staff, or its board of directors.