Latest Developments
Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraq-based Iranian proxy militia, threatened Saudi Arabia in a statement on July 13 for enabling the “the battle against the Palestinians.” Following previous threats to Riyadh, the group criticized via Telegram the “malicious role of Saudi Arabia’s rulers in harnessing their land routes to perpetuate the momentum of the battle against the Palestinians.”
The terrorist group also slammed Israel for carrying out an airstrike in southern Gaza on July 13. Also known as Hezbollah Brigades, the group threatened further escalation by adding, “the Zionist enemy only understands the language of weapons, and what is taken by force can only be recovered by force, which requires raising the pace of operations.”
The U.S. Department of State designated Kataib Hezbollah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2009. In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense assessed that the Iran-backed group likely killed three U.S. servicemembers and injured more than 40 others in an attack in Jordan.
Expert Analysis
“Kataib Hezbollah’s threats against Israel and Saudi Arabia should be taken seriously. The Iran-backed group is closely tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and, in the past, has been at the forefront of Iran’s threats against U.S. allies in the region. Kataib Hezbollah’s expertise in drones and other military capabilities make it a deadly terrorist group.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow
“It is doubtful that Kataib Hezbollah and the Houthis would issue threats against Saudi Arabia without coordinating with their patron, Iran. As is often the case in the region, Iran appears to be using its network of proxies and clients to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia. The recent threats should be taken seriously, and Riyadh would do well to reassess its relationship with the regime in Iran that is demonstrating hostility towards the kingdom’s sovereignty.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal
Iran-Backed Militias Increase Attacks Against Israel
Kataib Hezbollah’s threats come as Iran-backed militias have increased attacks on Israel since June. On July 13, sirens sounded in the southern Israeli port city of Eilat. The Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems intercepted two targets coming from the “east,” which usually refers to Iraqi-based militias targeting Israel. On July 8, the Iran-backed Houthis, based in Yemen, claimed that they had mounted a joint attack targeting Israel with Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The Houthis also threatened to launch a “legitimate response” to Saudi Arabia’s “hostile activities” in a statement on July 12. Additionally, the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed to target Eilat with a combat drone on June 26.