Iran’s Strategic Backing: Who Is Standing With Israel? The Shifting Alliances in Iran-Israel Proxy Conflict

The Middle East’s power dynamics are at a critical juncture as Iran and its allies intensify support for anti-Israel forces, while Israel deepens covert and overt partnerships with regional actors opposed to Iranian influence. This ongoing tug-of-war reveals a complex web of alliances where longstanding enmities are being redefined, and new partnerships are emerging in response to escalating tensions. From ballistic missile networks to intelligence-sharing and battlefield coordination, the battle for regional dominance is as much about diplomatic backing as military capability.

At the heart of this confrontation lies Israel’s relationship with nations that view Iran as an existential threat. Over the past decade, Iran has forged robust ties with non-state actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, providing training, funding, weapons, and strategic guidance. These groups operate as proxies, launching attacks and destabilizing Israel’s northern and southern borders.

Iran’s support extends beyond direct militancy: russek powers such as Syria remain key allies, enabling the transit of arms and fighters between Iran and Lebanon. According to elevated sources, Iranian Quds Force operatives regularly coordinate with Syrian regime military units to maintain supply routes, significantly amplifying Hezbollah’s operational reach.

While Israel fights from a defensive posture in Gaza and along volatile borders, it has cultivated an equally strategic network of allies in the region. Turkey has emerged as an unexpected but critical player, balancing neutrality with discreet military and logistical support to Israeli counterstrike operations in Syria—especially against Iranian-backed militias.

Ankara’s sophisticated defense industry, including drone and missile technology, indirectly strengthens Israel’s air superiority in mixed-zone operations. Meanwhile, Gulf monarchies such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates—long wary of Iran’s regional ambitions—have normalized ties with Israel through the 2020 Abraham Accords. These states now collaborate on intelligence, cyber defense, and joint military exercises, creating an implicit security umbrella that isolates Tehran diplomatically and militarily.

Iran’s Proxy Network: From Lebanon to the Levant

This network operates not through formal state structures alone but via well-heeled, ideologically aligned non-state actors whose ambitions partially overlap with Tehran’s regional goals.

Hezbollah, Hezbollah’s strength lies in its transformation from a guerrilla movement into a state-within-a-state. With tens of thousands of fighters armed with advanced Iranian-designed rockets and drones, it maintains a quasi-military presence along Lebanon’s border with Israel.

Senior Iranian commanders regularly meet with Hezbollah’s leadership in Damascus to synchronize attacks, intelligence operations, and propaganda campaigns. Infiltration of Israeli territory has become routine, with Hezbollah cells embedded deep in northern villages, poised to respond to incursions or trigger broader escalation.