Iran is reportedly seeking to coordinate its regional allies for a large-scale, multi-front attack on Israel, with Israeli assessments suggesting Tehran wants to avoid the lack of synchronisation that marked the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault.
The reported strategy would bring together Iranian forces and members of its “Axis of Resistance”, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas, Yemen’s Houthis and Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, in a simultaneous campaign, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. There has been no public confirmation from Iran that such an operation is being planned.
The assessment comes amid renewed regional tensions and reports of efforts by Tehran to rebuild military capabilities and strengthen coordination among allied groups.
Multiple fronts at once
According to the report, Iran has drawn lessons from October 7, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel without a simultaneous large-scale offensive from other Iran-aligned groups.
Documents recovered from Gaza after the attack reportedly indicated that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had envisioned a wider regional confrontation and sought to draw Hezbollah and Iran into the conflict. However, published US and Israeli assessments subsequently indicated that Iran and Hezbollah were not informed beforehand about all the details or the precise timing of the October 7 assault.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel from Lebanon after the Hamas assault but did not launch a full-scale parallel offensive that morning.
The latest Israeli assessments suggest Tehran now wants coordination across different fronts built into any future confrontation from the beginning, allowing multiple groups to exert pressure on Israel simultaneously.
Quds Force talks reported
Senior officials of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force have reportedly held discussions with commanders from Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iraqi militias about expanding their coordination.
Reports have also pointed to joint training exercises, closer operational links and increased coordination over political and military decisions among Iran-aligned groups. Tehran is also reportedly working to accelerate missile and drone production and restore capabilities damaged during recent fighting.
The regional balance within the Iranian network has meanwhile changed significantly. Hezbollah has suffered substantial damage during its conflict with Israel, while political and military upheaval in Syria has altered the environment in which Iran’s regional network traditionally operated. This has increased the strategic importance of the Houthis and Iran-aligned Iraqi militias.
Hamas’s leadership transition is also being closely watched. Khalil al-Hayya, who took over as the group’s overall leader in July, has maintained longstanding relations with Tehran and has been a central figure in Hamas’s ties with Iran.
However, the reported multi-front plan remains based primarily on Israeli intelligence assessments and media reports rather than an officially acknowledged Iranian operational plan. Recent independent analysis has also indicated uncertainty over Tehran’s immediate intentions, with Israeli officials reportedly saying earlier this week that they had not observed indications of an imminent Iranian attack.