Iran is witnessing a significant uprising as the nation enters its 12th day of protests, marking a departure from the usual pattern of unrest. This time, the demonstrations have taken a unique turn, with citizens renaming some streets after former U.S. President Donald Trump. The Iranian regime is struggling to contain the dissent, and the tension is palpable in Tehran, especially within government circles and among the senior clerical leadership.

The situation seems to be intensifying, as there are signs the regime might be resorting to drastic measures. Reports suggest that Hezbollah fighters and Iran-backed Iraqi militias could be called in to restore order, indicating a potential escalation in the regime’s response.

But here’s the critical question: Is the regime’s inclination to deploy foreign fighters an indication that its domestic security forces are faltering? It’s important to remember that while Iran is an Islamic country, it is not Arab; its population is primarily Persian, distinct from the Arab states in ethnicity and language. Historically, tensions have existed between these groups. Therefore, the involvement of Hezbollah and possibly Iraqi militias could either stabilize the situation or exacerbate the unrest.

As anti-regime protests spread across Iran for a 12th straight day, the Islamic Republic has reportedly turned to foreign militias for support, with two independent sources confirming that roughly 850 Hezbollah, Iraqi militia and Quds Force-linked fighters crossed into Iran to bolster the regime’s security forces.

The reported movement marks a significant escalation in the regime’s response, signaling a willingness to rely on allied foreign militias with combat experience to help suppress domestic dissent.

“This is nothing new for the regime. It is the logical extension of a playbook the ruling clerics have used since 1979 to outsource repression to ideologically loyal militias and then integrate them into the state’s coercive infrastructure,” Iran expert Lisa Daftari told Fox News Digital.

This, for my money, is the real point of this move:

Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the reported use of foreign proxy forces could reflect growing concerns within the regime about internal cohesion among Iran’s own security services.

“Since protests dating back to 2009, there were always allegations of Arabic being heard on the street,” Ben Taleblu told Fox News Digital. “As the contest between the state and the street continues to heat up, all eyes will be on Iran’s security forces to see if they defect or disobey orders to crack down. The problem is, so is the regime. And to that end, the Islamic Republic may have devised a failsafe for itself against popular anger. Foreign proxies. Whether Lebanese Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite militias, or the Afghan Fatemiyoun, their function would be the same: to fire on Iranians when other Iranians won’t.”

Could the regime’s attempt (or intention) to bring in foreign fighters be a sign that the regime’s internal forces are starting to crack? Remember, while Iran is an Islamic nation, it’s not an Arab nation. Iran’s population is predominantly Persian, with a different ethnic background and a different language from that found in the Arab states. Historically, the two groups haven’t gotten along all that well. Would bringing in Hezbollah and possibly Iraqi militia forces get things under control – or just make them worse?