Iran is intensifying efforts to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by mobilizing regional fighters, including members of Hezbollah and Iraq’s Shiite militias, according to soldiers and commanders who spoke to The Washington Post.

The fighters, positioned strategically across Syria, await orders to engage in combat as tensions mount in the region, the report noted. 

Hezbollah, long considered the linchpin of Iran’s proxy network, is central to these operations. The group has historically insulated Iran from direct involvement in regional conflicts. However, its current weakened state, coupled with Iran’s escalating confrontations with Israel, casts doubt on the effectiveness of this strategy.

“Iran has been there for us and protects the oppressed,” a Hezbollah member told The Washington Post.

“We are allies and will always be,” he added, dismissing claims that Hezbollah’s reduced strength could hinder its role in Syria.

The fighters’ current posture is described as “defensive” by both Hezbollah and Iraqi commanders. However, they emphasize their readiness to shift strategies if commanded.

Hezbollah forces have been deployed across Lebanon’s border, particularly toward the cities of Hama and Homs. Meanwhile, Iraqi Shiite militias are stationed in eastern Syria, where the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken advantage of the ongoing chaos to seize government-controlled villages near Deir al-Zour.

“The priority now is securing the borders,” an Iraqi commander told The Washington Post.

With these militias deeply connected to Iraq’s government and armed forces, officials in Baghdad have expressed concern over potential spillover violence from the Syrian conflict.

Both Hezbollah and the Iraqi militias view their presence in Syria as critical to safeguarding Iran’s “axis of resistance,” a network of allies extending through Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. While the mission is framed as defensive, the underlying objective is to counter external threats and prevent conflicts from spilling into their homelands.

The Hezbollah commander articulated this approach clearly: “We would rather fight the enemy in another country than in our land.”