Iran will fight until the last drop of Arab blood

Will weakening or completely eliminating the militias and armed groups affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Arab world push Iran to change its aggressive tone and consequently reconsider its expansionist strategy in the region? Or will it indeed launch a fierce war as it claimed since the success of the Islamic Revolution in 1979?

In a paradox that calls for reflection, it has become clear that the answer to the question regarding the continuation of the Islamic Republic of Iran pushing towards an open war with Israel and its allies is nothing but propaganda believed by the simple-minded who have driven themselves and those around them to destruction. Meanwhile, the Iranian president declares from his podium at the United Nations General Assembly that he and his country do not want a war that takes lives, but rather peace that prevails worldwide! It is a continuous role-playing strategy between the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the presidents elected by the people; one stirs up the situation, and the other calms it down, serving the interests of the regime there, which cannot be confused with the interests of the Islamic world, the Arab world, or even the Iranian citizen himself!

As for the Israeli response, it is clear that Israel, for the first time since 1948, is dealing with the situation with complete composure. Over the year following the Hamas attack on it, Israel dealt with the matter intelligence-wise, while armed militias in Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq launched sporadic missile attacks from time to time. When the zero hour arrived, Israel attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon, eliminating its leaders and Iranian field commanders, as well as the remaining Hamas leaders. The surprising element at that time was the Syrian calm, which was considered Iran’s strongest fortress in the Levant, until the picture became clear with the fall of the Assad regime in just ten days.

Iran supports armed groups spread according to Iranian influence in the region (although the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, Mr. Ali Khamenei, disavowed this support yesterday). Among the most prominent of these groups are:

• Hezbollah in Lebanon: Hezbollah is considered one of the strongest groups supported by Iran, playing a significant role in Lebanese politics and regional conflicts.
• Houthis in Yemen: Iran supports the Houthis in their conflict against the Yemeni government and the Saudi-led coalition. They also supported them in launching missiles and drones towards Israel.
• Shia militias in Iraq: These militias include groups such as “Kata’ib Hezbollah” and “Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq,” which play a significant role in Iraqi politics and security.
• Al-Assad Regime & Armed groups in Syria: Iran supported al-Assad regime and many armed groups fighting alongside the Syrian government in the Syrian civil war.
• Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine: Iran provides financial and military support to these groups in their conflict with Israel.
• Bahraini Shia opposition: Present in Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom under various formations and names, including small armed groups in Iraq.
• Egypt: Iran attempted to infiltrate Egypt through the planting of Hassan Shehata, who was later lynched on the streets, and through rapprochement with President Morsi, who was close to them.
• Africa: Iran supports some groups in Africa, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana, and tries to gain the favor of some governments on the eastern coast to circumvent sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iran has provided its support in various ways since the early 1980s to these groups through:

• Financial support: Iran has provided significant financial aid, allowing these groups to continue their operations and expand their influence.
• Military training: Iranian military experts have trained fighters from various groups in tactics, guerrilla warfare, and military strategy, enhancing their combat effectiveness.
• Weapons supply: Iran has supplied these groups with a range of weapons, including missiles, small arms, and other military equipment, to enhance their capabilities.
• Political support: Iran has offered political support, bolstering the legitimacy of many groups within Lebanon, Iraq, and the region in general.
• Ideological alignment: Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Popular Mobilization Forces share a commitment to resisting Western influence and supporting the Palestinian cause, strengthening their alliance. This support has been crucial in developing Hezbollah as a significant political and military force in Lebanon and the region.

The movements of the Islamic Republic, through the support of the Revolutionary Guard for these militias, have been characterized by aggression not only towards Israeli presence but also towards any ruler who disagrees with Iranian orientations. In a strange paradox, the official Iranian media has recently started broadcasting opinions claiming that Iran is the only supporter of the Palestinians and their just cause, through a widely organized propaganda to erase the Arab role that began before 1948 to this day. Gulf countries have participated at various levels over the years by sending soldiers, whether official or volunteers, to stand with the Palestinians. They also welcomed their Palestinian brothers, who became citizens in the Gulf countries, and contributed vast amounts exceeding billions of dollars alongside in-kind and relief aid, housing, infrastructure, health, and even military projects, and diplomatic support that no one can deny. Meanwhile, Iranian contributions were directed towards militias and armed groups that contributed to splitting the Palestinian ranks with an annual value of $30 million since 2012, pushing towards making Iran a regional power with arms in the region.

Despite the contributions of the Arab Gulf countries, alongside North African countries, Iraq, and the Levant, the Palestinian and Iranian memory sometimes forgets this to focus only on the Iranian support that came very late and does not match the level of Arab support over the past years. The Arab Gulf countries have provided significant financial aid to the Palestinians over the years, primarily to support humanitarian, economic, and political causes. Contributions came through direct financial aid, donations to international organizations, and development projects. However, it is difficult to determine an exact cumulative figure as the amount of aid varies year by year, based on political dynamics and crises. Estimates of aid provided by the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman) to the Palestinians are significant, with Saudi Arabia often being the largest contributor.

From 2000 to 2020, it is estimated that the Arab Gulf countries contributed around $7 billion in aid to the Palestinians. The bulk of this aid often goes towards the Palestinian Authority, development projects in the West Bank and Gaza, and UNRWA. The amounts vary significantly, especially during major conflicts or political changes in the region. For example, during the Gaza War in 2014, the Gulf countries pledged over $1 billion in reconstruction aid, with Qatar pledging $1 billion and Saudi Arabia pledging $500 million.

On the other hand, the financial support provided by Iran to Palestinian groups has varied over the years, and it is often difficult to verify exact figures. Estimates suggest that Iran has provided hundreds of millions of dollars annually to groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Some reports cite support ranging from $100 million to $300 million annually, but these figures can fluctuate based on the geopolitical landscape and specific conflicts. In addition to direct financial aid, Iran also provides military training, equipment, and logistical support to these groups, which can significantly amplify the impact of its financial contributions. There is a clear difference in the overall purpose of spending, with one side supporting reconstruction and the other supporting war and destruction.

Recent events over the past few months have put things in perspective regarding Iran’s positioning in the region, revealing the paper tiger when its arms in the region began to suffer. Who would have expected Hezbollah’s infrastructure to be struck in such a humiliating and swift manner, with its leaders eliminated within hours, leaving the pro-resistance street in the Middle East in a state of shock? Before Iran could absorb the series of blows, starting with the assassination of Soleimani and ending with the killing of its elected president and foreign minister, leading to Hassan Nasrallah.

The tragic events did not end there. Shortly after, the Assad regime, Iran’s only official ally in the Levant, fell, signaling the fall of Iraqi militias and the Houthi militia afterward, leaving Iran at a crossroads of either falling into the quagmire of war or changing its approach to the region and focusing on domestic affairs as it should have done from the first day of the revolution’s success over 45 years ago. Thus, Iran relinquishes all its arms in the region, proving once again to history that it does not care about Arabs or Shiism, but rather it was all to satisfy its expansionist ambitions, disregarding all the promises and slogans it had made. This serves as a lesson for their Arab supporters that there is no alternative to their homelands and their partners in the nation, with their diverse ethnicities and beliefs.

Iran, which sacrificed and fought using Arab blood, returned defeated from its first test of employing Persian blood and sacrificing it. No observer can overlook that Iran fought to the last breath, sacrificing only Arab blood.