But there is little expectation that this will be the end of Iran’s response to such a significant loss. LEBANONLebanon is a base for perhaps Iran’s oldest and most powerful proxy organisation, Hezbollah, or party of God. Peace talks late last year have raised questions about the durability of Iranian influence there however, should the conflict end. IRAN’S OWN MILITARY CAPABILITIESIran has an active military over half a million strong, and another 350,000 reservists. Its military spending was estimated at $13bn in 2018 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), a figure dwarfed by the US military budget for that year of $648.8bn.

Source: The Guardian January 11, 2020 07:52 UTC