Axis of Resistance
Axis of Resistance | |||||
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Leaders | |||||
Group(s) | Primary
List
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Headquarters | MEK[10] | ||||
Political position | Big tent | ||||
Status | Active unofficial military alliance | ||||
Allies | |||||
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Opponents | |||||
Former opponents
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Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War, Israel–Hamas war, 2024 Iran–Israel conflict |
The Axis of Resistance (
It most notably includes the
The various actions of members of this axis reflect their domestic interests while serving the broader goal of complicating Israel's attacks and imposing a cost on the United States to support Israel.[34] The coalition is also opposed to Sunni Salafist armed groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS.[35]
History
Etymology
The term "Axis of Resistance" was first used by the Libyan daily newspaper Al-Zahf Al-Akhdar in response to American president
In 2006, the Palestinian minister of the interior, Said Saim, used the term during an interview at Al-Alam television to refer to common political goals among Arabs in opposition to those of Israel or the United States. Noting the large number of Palestinian refugees in Syria, Saim stated, "Syria is also an Islamic Arab country and is also targeted by the Americans and the Zionists. Hence, we see in Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas an axis of resistance in front of these pressures."[38]
The term "axis of resistance" was used as early as August 2010.[39] After two years, Ali Akbar Velayati, senior advisor for foreign affairs to Iran's supreme leader, used the term and said:
The chain of resistance against Israel by Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, the new Iraqi government, and Hamas passes through the Syrian highway... Syria is the golden ring of the chain of resistance against Israel.[40]
The phrase was used again in August 2012 during a meeting between Syrian president
What is happening in Syria is not an internal issue, but a conflict between the axis of resistance and its enemies in the region and the world. Iran will not tolerate, in any form, the breaking of the axis of resistance, of which Syria is an intrinsic part.[40]
Foundation
In the wake of the 1979
Evolution
At first, the alliance consisted of the Syrian government and Lebanese Hezbollah. Years later, Iran, already closely aligned with Syria and Hezbollah, would form stronger relations between the three, creating the axis. Iraqi and Yemeni militants coordinating with Iran came in as the newest members of this alliance.
Members
Iran
Ali Khamenei, who has served as the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, has repeatedly defined the Islamic Republic government as a "resistance government" (i.e., against Western and Israeli influence).[51] Qasem Soleimani played an important role in Iran's battle with ISIS in Iraq. He has been described as the focal point for bringing together Kurdish and Shia forces for the war against ISIS.[52] Soleimani's achievements led to the creation of an axis of Shia influence throughout the Middle East centered on Iran.[35] During a meeting with Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel in December 2023, Khamenei said that that the political and economic potentials of Iran and Cuba should be used to form a coalition against the "bullying" of United States and its Western allies, in order to adopt a "common and effective position" on important global issues such as the Palestinian issue.[53]
Syria
According to Jubin Goodarzi, an assistant professor and researcher at Webster University, the Iranian–Syrian alliance that was formed in 1979 is of great importance to the emergence and continuity of the axis of resistance. Both countries are in key locations of the Middle East, and they have been affecting Middle Eastern politics during the past three decades. Also, the alliance is considered to be an enduring one, lasting 34 years "in spite of the many challenges that it has faced and periodic strains in the relationship".[40] The axis has been described as altering "the strategic balance in the Middle East" by assisting Syrian leader
Iraq
Armed militias emerged in Iraq after the US invasion of the country in 2003. These groups became exponentially stronger when they organized as a collective front to counter the terrorist group ISIS.[61]
Iranian officials claimed on October 30 that attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and other parts of the region were the consequence of "wrong American policies", which included Washington's backing of Israel in its war against Hamas.[62]
Yemen
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the commander of the Houthi movement in Yemen, declared on October 10 that his organisation would retaliate by using missiles and drones in addition to other military measures if the United States got involved in the Gaza conflict.[63] The Houthis then launched attacks on ships they claim are linked to Israel in a self-proclaimed bid to end the war, prompting a military response from a number of countries led by the United States.[64]
Palestine
Despite the Axis of Resistance being composed of primarily Shia Islamist factions, the
Opponents
Despite the alliance members' differing ideologies and domestic interests,[71] they serve the broader goal of complicating Israel's attacks and imposing a cost on the United States to support Israel.[72]
Israel
The axis claims to be against Israel in order to shore up popular support across the Islamic world, according to Tallha Abdulrazaq, writing in the
As a result of the
In April 2024, Iran launched a
Islamic State
This axis became the main fighters against ISIS after the group took over almost a third of Iraq in 2014.[35] According to the Los Angeles Times Amirli was the first city to successfully resist an ISIS offensive and was secured thanks to an unusual cooperation between Iraqi and Kurdish troops, Iranian-backed Shia militias and US warplanes.[76] In 2012, Hezbollah
The coalition supported one another in many battles in the Syrian civil war, such as in Hama Governorate, Palmyra, Aleppo and Idlib Governorate. The Russian Air Force has used Iranian airbases for refueling namely the Hamadan Airbase.[81]
The IRGC Quds Force leader claimed: "the resistance of the Iraqi and Syrian governments and the perseverance of the armies and young men of these two countries ... played an important role in overturning this dangerous event … [I can announce] the termination of the rule of this vicious cursed entity, following the liberation operation of Abu Kamal, as the last fort of ISIS, bringing down the flag of this US-Zionist made terrorist group and raising the flag of Syria".[82]
Relationships with other countries
Relations with Russia
Russia's effort to expand its role in the Middle East is intertwined with its relations with the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance. While it is not called a meaningful strategic alliance, the common interest in preserving the Syrian government is a common goal. [83]
Relations with Afghanistan
Iran was accused of supporting the Taliban during the war in Afghanistan.[91][92] Ali Akbar Velayati[93] and Hassan Kazemi Qomi[94] claim that the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is also part of Iran's Axis of Resistance. However, commander of the Quds Force Esmail Qaani believes the Taliban government was "no friend of Iran".[93]
See also
- Arab–Israeli alliance against Iran
- Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition, another military alliance that involves Iran and Syria
- Shia crescent
- Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war
- Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war
- Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
- Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition
Notes
- ^ Hurras al-Din (HaD) is the successor organization of Al-Nusra Front and the current branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria.
- ^ a.k.a. Houthi movement, de facto government in Northwestern Yemen since the 2010s.
- ^ Islamic Resistance Movement, de facto government of the Gaza Strip until 2024.
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