Iran Planning ‘October 7-Style’ Assault on Israel With Regional Proxies: Report

Iran is reportedly preparing to revive a coordinated multi-front campaign against Israel, with intelligence sources warning of a possible assault resembling the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The reported plan would seek to coordinate several Iran-aligned groups and open multiple fronts against Israel simultaneously. These reportedly include Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen and pro-Iranian militias operating in Iraq.

The October 7, 2023 attack saw Hamas-led militants breach Israel’s border with Gaza by land, air and sea. More than 1,200 people were killed in the assault, which targeted military bases, communities and the Nova music festival.

Tehran seeks to rebuild regional network

According to Arab media reports cited by The Jerusalem Post, Iran has been working to restore coordination among groups belonging to its so-called “Axis of Resistance”.

The informal network includes Iran and a range of allied state and non-state actors across the Middle East that oppose Israel and US influence in the region.

The reported effort comes alongside changes within Hamas. The Jerusalem Post said Hamas’ new leader, Khalil al-Hayya, is regarded as having close ties with Tehran. Hamas and Hezbollah have also reportedly stepped up coordination in recent weeks with Iranian assistance.

The report cited an assessment by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which said the two groups have been increasing their activities.

How it could resemble October 7

The reported Iranian strategy is being compared with October 7 because of its emphasis on activating several fronts simultaneously.

The Jerusalem Post linked the assessment to purported Hamas documents recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza after the 2023 attack. The documents allegedly showed that Yahya Sinwar, a key architect of the assault, wanted to widen the conflict by bringing other regional arenas into the confrontation.

One document reportedly called for efforts to “connect and prepare the external fronts”, including Lebanon, Syria and Sinai.

However, the desired level of coordination was not achieved before the October 7 attack. US and Israeli assessments published after the assault indicated that Iran and Hezbollah were not informed beforehand about all operational details or the exact timing of Hamas’ plan.

The latest intelligence claims suggest Tehran may now be attempting to address that coordination gap by bringing multiple Iran-aligned groups into a more synchronised campaign.

The report does not establish that such an attack is imminent, and the alleged preparations remain intelligence-based claims rather than a confirmed operational plan.