Iranian Funding, Training, and Arming from North to South

After the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized power in 1979, Iran, which had previously maintained friendly relations with Israel, became the world’s leading sponsor of Islamic terrorism. Through its elite Quds Force, established in the late 1980s, the regime extended its reach beyond its borders in order to strike its enemies from a distance.

One of the primary tools used by the Quds Force to carry out attacks and build terror infrastructure has been the network of terrorist organizations it operates across the globe, particularly in the western Middle East.

Two of the regime’s central proxies, located on Israel’s border, are Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south. Both have suffered significant blows, whether directly or indirectly, during the fighting against Iran.

North: The Origins of Hezbollah
Understanding this project requires a closer look inside Iran, particularly at the Quds Force. It is a complex system of commands, sub-units, headquarters, and intelligence bodies, each with a specific role, all composed of some of the regime’s most ruthless operatives.

Looking back to the early 1970s, the Amal militia was established and became the most dominant Shiite force in Lebanon for years. It later contributed to the formation of Hezbollah, which was founded in 1984 and became the central component of Iran’s Shiite terror network.

Hezbollah recruited many of its fighters from Amal, due to both ideological alignment and stronger financial incentives. This was made possible by the support of Iran.

The organization was established with assistance from the IRGC, which worked with Sheikh Sayyed Hussein Fadlallah, a highly influential Shiite religious figure. Through this cooperation, many operatives were recruited, trained, and armed by Quds Force personnel sent into Lebanon. Hezbollah quickly became the most powerful and dominant terror organization in the country.

Developments During Five Weeks of the Operation
After Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets toward Israel on the second day of Operation Roaring Lion, the IDF initiated intensive operations against the group. Forces have continued to raid terror infrastructure in villages and forested areas, clearing militants and destroying weapons depots, military equipment, and ammunition.

As part of these operations, Golani Brigade troops captured two Radwan Force terrorists, Hezbollah’s elite unit, approximately two weeks ago.

In addition, the IDF targeted the organization’s financial network, nearly dismantling the Al-Qard al-Hassan association, which transfers significant funds to Hezbollah while presenting itself as a civilian loan institution.

Hezbollah’s chain of command has also been significantly weakened since the start of the operation. Several senior figures have been eliminated, including the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashim, who was involved in advancing rocket and UAV attacks against Israel.

South: The Origins of Hamas
In the south, in Gaza, and in Judea and Samaria to the east, the IDF has been engaged in ongoing operations against Hamas for more than two and a half years. Even as attention shifted to other arenas, activity against Hamas in Gaza has continued consistently.

Hamas was founded in the late 1980s in Judea and Samaria as a religious-political Islamist movement by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who also served as its spiritual leader.

Initially, its members focused on protests and demonstrations. Over time, these actions escalated into increasing violence, including kidnappings and terror attacks inside Israel. Eventually, a structured military wing was established.

In 2006, elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council were held, after which Hamas rose to power in Gaza. Shortly afterward, tensions with the rival Fatah leadership intensified. Approximately two years later, Hamas used force to take full control of the Gaza Strip, carrying out widespread violence, seizing bases, destroying institutions, and dismantling the existing government.

At this stage, Iran began providing significant support to Hamas. Although Hamas is a Sunni organization, both sides share the objective of targeting Israel. As a result, the Iranian regime has provided financial assistance and facilitated the transfer of weapons to Hamas’ military wing.

Developments During Five Weeks of the Operation
Over the past month, IDF forces have continued enforcing the ceasefire, preventing Hamas operatives from crossing the designated Yellow Line. At the same time, numerous underground tunnel routes and the weapons stored within them have been destroyed.

In the first two weeks of the operation alone, six kilometers of tunnels were destroyed. These tunnels had been used by terrorists from the East Rafah Battalion, who were later eliminated by IDF engineering forces in the area.

Targeted strikes have also increased, with more than 60 terrorists eliminated during Operation Roaring Lion. Some were neutralized inside tunnels that were uncovered, while others were eliminated after approaching or entering areas where IDF forces were operating.

Among them was Yahya Abu-Labda, a key figure in Hamas’ weapons supply unit, who was responsible for acquiring many of the weapons used by Nukhba terrorists during the October 7 attacks on Israeli communities near Gaza.

The significant damage inflicted on Iran’s terror regime over the past month, including its military industry, economy, launch systems, and senior leadership, has had a broader impact–it has also severely weakened the regime’s ability to fund and sustain its proxies across the Middle East.

The past weeks have made one reality increasingly clear: Iran’s terror network does not operate in isolation, it functions as a connected system. When pressure is applied at the center, the effects ripple outward. Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south are not independent actors, but extensions of the same strategy, built on Iranian funding, training, and direction. 

As Operation Roaring Lion continues to degrade the regime’s military capabilities and leadership, it is also constricting the lifelines that sustain these proxies. The result is not only a direct blow to Iran, but a broader weakening of the entire network it has spent decades building.