Israeli newspaper: Iraqi forces would cooperate with Hezbollah to occupy Galilee

Israeli daily, Yedioth Ahronoth has published what it calls Hezbollah’s “plan to conquer the Galilee,” stated that according to the plan, the combatants of Al-Radwan Unit, Hezbollah’s elite forces, were supposed to break into tunnels that were dug in the border area between Israel and Lebanon, supported by Iraqi forces.

The report has been based on the opinion of the military analyst of the newspaper’s website, Ron Ben-Yishai, in considering that Iran and Hezbollah have planned to involve Iraqi forces, combatants from Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba, and other countries.

According to the report, the combatants of these forces were supposed to participate in the operation along with the combatants of Al-Radwan forces that planned to cross the tunnels into Israel.

The report pointed out that the commander of one of the Iraqi battalions, Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba, was seen a few months ago, and photos of him were taken while he was on tour on the northern borders along with combatants of Hezbollah.

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre, which was named in honour of Meir Amit, published last year a report stating that Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba, which was founded in 2013, is run by the Iranian Quds Force and is given priority regarding the allocation of resources.

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The Centre also pointed out that the Quds Force, led by Qasem Soleimani, is a force affiliated to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for all secret operations outside Iran’s borders. Also, the Centre stated in its report that Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba is supported by Hezbollah and has become one of the “strong and important Shiite militias in Iraq.”

The report also noted that Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba consists of three brigades, comprising about 9,000 combatants. The movement had stood alongside the Syrian regime’s forces against the opposition forces and Daesh in the regions of Aleppo, Damascus and Deir ez-Zor. The movement also helped Iraq in the war against Daesh, especially in the Iraqi-Syrian border area.

According to the Israeli research centre, in return for the special treatment Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba is receiving, it is entrusted by Iran to undertake “strategic missions” in the future, including the protection of the Iraqi-Syrian borders and the Iraqi part of the supply route from Baghdad to Damascus. In this context, according to the newspaper, it is likely that Iran is planning to engage the movement in the confrontation with Israel, through the formation of the “Golan Liberation Brigade.”

The founder of the movement, Akram Al-Kaabi, announced in March last year the formation of the “Golan Liberation Brigade,” and stated that the forces of Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba in Syria are ready to liberate the Golan along with the Syrian army.

According to the report, the “plan to conquer the Galilee” was supposed to be implemented by the combatants of Al-Radwan Unit, Hezbollah’s elite forces, which is carrying out sensitive and secret missions. The report also talked about “rapid intervention forces, whose combatants are receiving intensive training.”

The report also stated that Hezbollah maintains absolute secrecy about everything related to Al-Radwan Unit and does not publish anything official about it.