Ways to Confront Armed Militias in Neighboring Countries
Armed militias—Iran’s proxies in neighboring countries—are among the most prominent issues raised during the current escalation in the region, as ending support for them was one of the four key U.S. demands made of Iran. Without delving into the historical background of these militias’ origins, development, and activities, four factors unite them. First: their concentration in specific geographic areas within those countries. Second: their reliance on funding from smuggling and money laundering, among the many methods Iran employs to finance them. Third: their political principles are based on cross-border ideological dimensions, which threaten national unity in those countries. Fourth: The existence of close ties between these militias aimed at destabilizing the region.
It is noteworthy that many Western studies addressing threats to the regional security of the Arab Gulf states have indicated that these militias are regional actors whose influence extends beyond the regional sphere to affect the policies of major powers and international interests. A prime example of this is the Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in 2023, as part of what the Houthi group termed “support for Gaza.” This prompted the United States, in December of that same year, to announce the establishment of a multinational maritime coalition named “Guardians of Prosperity,” with the aim of protecting maritime navigation in that region from Houthi attacks using missiles and drones.
This means that these militias pose a threat to both regional and global security; indeed, the risks they pose have increased as their ability to use military technology to target critical infrastructure in the Arab Gulf states has grown. This is reflected in the current escalation in the region, where hundreds of drones have been launched from Iraq toward the territories of the Gulf Cooperation Council states. This raises questions about how to counter these militias; assuming an agreement is signed that includes Iranian commitments to cut off funding to these militias, what are the guarantees of implementation? It is true that military alliances have been—and remain—an important mechanism for warding off the threats posed by these militias, especially given their repeated threats to the security and safety of international waterways, which are the lifelines of international trade; however, the situation requires consideration on three levels: national, regional, and international.
At the national level, there is no doubt that support from the central governments of those countries is the first step toward curbing the influence of these militias; this includes direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. auspices, which represent an important step in this direction. In addition, the new government in Iraq, and what negotiations with it might yield—if it demonstrates the will and capacity—could help limit the activities of these militias. At the regional level, the Gulf states’ role in neighboring regions constitutes a crucial mechanism through their support for these countries, because the extent of the Gulf presence will determine the extent of Iran’s retreat. What these countries need is support for political, economic, and security reconstruction. At the international level, while the aforementioned military alliances are important for deterring the activities of these militias, there remains a need for international initiatives backed by UN resolutions that exert pressure on these militias to resolve conflicts in neighboring countries; Indeed, achieving consensus among major powers and international organizations to designate these militias as terrorist groups remains a critical requirement, given the resulting drying up of their financial resources and curtailment of their activities.
Undoubtedly, the events in Gaza in 2023, the military confrontation between Israel and Iran in 2025, and the escalation witnessed in the region in 2026 have all reflected, in an unprecedented manner, the dangers posed by these militias, especially given their possession of missiles and drones used to target vital facilities in the Arab Gulf states. The role of these militias may not completely fade in the future, as they serve as an effective and cost-free tool for Iran in its regional and global conflicts. This raises questions about how to respond to these militias’ attacks. Among the options, launching military strikes through international coalitions against their positions remains a key mechanism, especially given their ability to threaten maritime navigation as well as critical infrastructure in GCC states.
Discussions regarding the influence of armed militias in neighboring countries are linked, on the one hand, to the state of those countries’ governments and, on the other hand, to the regional security framework; both tracks must be developed in parallel to ultimately lead to regional security stability.
Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.
Dr. Ashraf Mohammed Keshk Director, of International and Strategic Studies Program
