Axis of Resistance
Leaders
Group(s)Primary
List
HeadquartersIran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen
IdeologyRevolutionary Shia Islamism, Anti-Zionism
Anti-Western sentiment
Opposition to American, Israeli and Gulf states' interests in the Middle East
Opposition to the MEK[10]
Political positionSeveral different positions
StatusActive unofficial military alliance
AlliesState allies

Non-state allies

OpponentsState opponents

Non-state opponents

Former opponents
Battles and warsIran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Syrian Civil War, 2023 Israel–Hamas war

The Axis of Resistance (Persian: محور مقاومت, romanized: mehvar–e moqâvemat, Arabic: محور المقاومة, romanized: miḥwar al-muqāwamah, Spanish: Eje de Resistencia) is an informal anti-Israeli and anti-Western political and military coalition led by the Iranian government.[29][30] It includes the Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah and various militant groups in Palestine.[31][32][33]

Despite the alliance's differing ideologies, they are unified by their declared objectives of opposing the activities of pro-Western parties, Israel, Arab Gulf states, Sunni Jihadists and the MEK in the region.[34]

In December 2023, during a meeting with Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told Cubans to open a coalition against what they claimed to be "bullying" by the United States and its Western allies.[35]

History

The term was first used by the Libyan daily newspaper Al-Zahf Al-Akhdar in response to American president George W. Bush's claim that Iran, Iraq, and North Korea formed an "axis of evil." In an article titled "Axis of evil or axis of resistance", the paper wrote in 2002 that "the only common denominator among Iran, Iraq, and North Korea is their resistance to US hegemony."[36] The Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami subsequently adopted the language in reference to the Shia insurgency in Iraq, writing in 2004 that "if the line of Iraq's Shi'is needs to be linked, united, and consolidated, this unity should be realized on the axis of resistance and struggle against the occupiers."[37]

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 Bashar al-Assad and the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, regarding the Syrian Civil War.[41] Velayati said:

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]

The Syrian state-run news agency, SANA, has stated that the two governments discussed their "strategic cooperation relationship" and "attempts by some Western countries and their allies to strike at the axis of resistance by targeting Syria and supporting terrorism there."[41] The alliance has been described as an "Axis of Terror" by the prime minister and ambassadors of Israel.[42][43][44]

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.[45] After the beginning of Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War, a slew of posters showing images of Nasrallah, Assad, Khamenei, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have appeared with an Arabic caption meaning, "Men who bow to no one but God." The posters suggest another emerging regional Axis of Resistance, according to The Hill. However, this coalition has been described as "deeply polarising" for its sectarian targeting of Sunni Syrians.[12] Hezbollah's actions have also arisen denunciation in Lebanon, most notably from Lebanese President Michael Sulieman, who demanded an end to unilateral armed maneuvers by Hezbollah. Grievance is also widespread amongst Lebanon's Sunni minority, who charge Hezbollah with engaging in sectarian violence against other Muslims, and of forfeiting its anti-Zionist stance.[46] With Hezbollah's intensifying participation in the Syrian civil war following the years after 2013, the coalition has become explicitly Khomeinist and anti-Sunni; with the Assad regime becoming beholden and subservient to Iran and its proxies for continued existence. Alienated by sectarian policies, Sunni Islamists such as Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas began publicly opposing Iran and Hezbollah and have aligned closely with Turkey and Qatar, countries which are engaged in geo-political competition with Iran.[47][48]

Analysis

Members, aims, ideological currents, and allies

The axis has been described as altering "the strategic balance in the Middle East" by assisting Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to remain in power and backing his war-crimes against Syrian civilians.[49] According to Marisa Sullivan, the programme and aims of the Axis have three main pillars; shared regional objective in preserving the Assad regime, maintaining access to supplies of weapons and money from Iran, and stopping a Sunni-majority government from ever coming to power in Syria.[50] The current ruling Syrian Ba'ath party elites are primarily made up of Alawites, who are an offshoot sect of Shiism, which is also the majority sect of Iran.[51] This common background has made them strategic allies on various issues, including defense.[52]

Despite the Axis of Resistance being composed of primarily Shia Islamist factions, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a secular Marxist-Leninist formation, is generally considered part of the Axis of Resistance, and receives support from Iran.[53][54] The Sunni Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has also at times been considered part of the axis due to its opposition to Israel and the United States. However, as of March 2012, the group has since pulled its headquarters out of Damascus and thrown its support behind the anti-Assad Syrian opposition.[55][56] However, in October 2022, Hamas restored ties with Syria after reconciliation with the support of mediation by Iran.[57][58]

Russia is considered by Syrian government and Iran to be part of or an ally of the Axis, and Russia has militarily intervened in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad. However, Russia has also maintained friendly relations with Arab Gulf States; with the objective of deepening economic co-operation, particularly in the energy sector.[59] Russia has deepened economic, security and energy co-operation with the GCC countries to reduce American influence in the region and has been pursuing normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.[60]

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]

Purposes for the Axis

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 Middle East Monitor, and it took a severe blow after the Israeli Mazraat Amal air strike.[61] Three days before that airstrike against the Hizbollah convoy, Hizbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah said: "...we consider that any strike against Syria is a strike against the whole of the resistance axis, not just against Syria."[62]

Relationship with the Islamic State and the Taliban

Hezbollah rejects the idea of Lebanon helping in the U.S.-led intervention in Iraq, against the Islamic State arguing that it may lead to the U.S. domination in the region or "substituting terrorism with flagrant US occupation".[63]

Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, described the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as part of the Axis of Resistance, with Iran at its core, a coalition of nations seeking “resistance, independence, and freedom.”[64] The prominent Principlist daily publication in Iran, Kayhan, also referred to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as a member of the Axis of Resistance.[65][66] However, Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force said in September 2021 that past sectarian conflicts have shown that the Taliban government was "no friend of Iran".[64] Since then, border clashes had occurred at their shared border in 2021 and 2023, claiming several lives on both sides.[67][68]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Hurras al-Din (HaD) is the successor organization of Al-Nusra Front and the current branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria.

References

  1. ↑ "The Huseynyun: Iran's new IRGC-backed movement in Azerbaijan". Middle East Monitor. October 9, 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Iran Update, October 18, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  3. ↑ "The Nujaba Movement – the Movement of the Noble Ones: One of the dominant pro-Iranian militias in Iraq". The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. May 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ Dana Taib Menmy; Oliver Mizzi (8 November 2023). "Who is the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, the mysterious group attacking US and Israeli targets over Gaza?". The New Arab.
  5. ↑ "سياسة - همام حمودي لوكالة ايرانية: المجلس الأعلى عاد إلى الإمام الخميني - سومر نيوز". Archived from the original on 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  6. ↑ "ظهرت الاحجام السياسية. الان بدأت معركة الأغلبية المطلقة. تشكيل الحكومة أم المعارك || قاسم متيرك". Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  7. ↑ Hussein Abou Saleh (2 November 2023). "Iran's 'axis of resistance': how Hamas and Tehran are attempting to galvanise their allies against Israel". The Conversation. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel (19 October 2023). "IDF says it killed head of military wing of Gaza's Popular Resistance Committees". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "Hamas quashes armed Shiite movement Sabireen in Gaza". Al-Monitor. 21 March 2019.
  10. ↑ "Beware Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' | People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)". Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  11. ↑ Jay Solomon (2017-11-27). "High-Level Contacts Between North Korea and Iran Hint at Deeper Military Cooperation". Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  12. 1 2 Schenker, David (7 October 2015). "Putin and the Shiite 'Axis of Resistance'". The Hill. Retrieved 25 May 2016. Assad, backed by Hezbollah and Iran, began his campaign to eradicate Sunni regime opponents...this new axis — which targets Syrian Sunnis instead of Israel — is deeply polarizing.
  13. ↑ "Iranian press review: Venezuela part of 'Axis of Resistance', says Maduro". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  14. ↑ https://www.tortillaconsal.com/tortilla/node/12524
  15. ↑ Vivian Nereim (13 September 2023). "U.S. Deepens Security Pledge to Bahrain, an Adversary of Iran". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Michael Scollon (19 October 2023). "Iran's 'Axis Of Resistance': A Network Designed To Create Chaos, Fight Tehran's Enemies". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  17. ↑ Fatima Al-Kassab (26 October 2023). "What is the 'axis of resistance' of Iran-backed groups in the Middle East?". NPR. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  18. ↑ Steinberg, Guido; Stiftung Wissenschaft Und Politik (2021). "The "Axis of Resistance" Iran's Expansion in the Middle East Is Hitting a Wall". SWP Research Paper. doi:10.18449/2021RP06.
  19. ↑ Cafarella, Jennifer (2014). "Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria: An Islamic Emirate for Al-Qaeda" (PDF). Middle East Security Report 25. Washington, DC: Institute for the Study of War: 8–46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2022.
  20. ↑ Alkhshali, Hamdi; Starr, Barbara (28 February 2017). "Deputy al Qaeda leader killed In Syria". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022.
  21. ↑ "IRAN'S SHADOW WAR ON ISIS".
  22. ↑ Nadimi, Farzim (10 September 2014). "Iran Is Expanding Its Military Role in Iraq in a Bunch of Ways". Business Insider. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "Beware Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' | People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)". Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  24. ↑ "Egypt sends Assad secret arms aid, including missiles, with Russian funding". debka.com.
  25. ↑ "Egypt voices support for Russia's moves in Syria". Reuters. 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  26. ↑ "Victory for Assad looks increasingly likely as world loses interest in Syria". The Guardian. 31 August 2017. Returning from a summit in the Saudi capital last week, opposition leaders say they were told directly by the foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, that Riyadh was disengaging.
  27. ↑ Samia Nakhoul, Aziz El Yaakoubi (24 May 2023). "Saudi embrace of Assad sends strong signal to US". Reuters. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  28. ↑ "UAE reopens Syria embassy in boost for Assad". Reuters. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  29. ↑ "Syria: Iran vows it will not allow Assad to fall". The Telegraph. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  30. ↑ Al-Kassab, Fatima (26 October 2023). "What is the 'axis of resistance' of Iran-backed groups in the Middle East?". NPR. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Iran backs Assad as Syrian forces choke off Aleppo". Reuters. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  32. ↑ "Iran: Syria part of 'axis of resistance'". CNN. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  33. ↑ Drums Of War: Israel And The "AXIS OF RESISTANCE" (PDF), International Crisis Group, 2 August 2010, archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04
  34. ↑ Sources:
    • Sullivan, Marisa (April 2014), Hezbollah in Syria (PDF), Institute for the Study of War, p. 5, archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2014
    • Barnes-Dacey, Julien; Bechev, Dimitar; Borisov, Timofey; Frolovskiy, Dmitriy; Gaub, Florence; Ghanem-Yazbeck, Dalia; Katz, Mark N.; Kuznetsov, Vasily; Lavrov, Anton; Nakhle, Carole; Trenin, Dmitri (2018). "Russia and the 'resistance axis'". European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS): 65–70. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023.
  35. ↑ "Global coalition should be formed against US bullying". Mehr News Agency. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  36. ↑ "Collapse of US-Libyan Talks Highlighted by Revived Anti-US Rhetoric from Tripoli". Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily. February 12, 2002.
  37. ↑ "BBC Monitoring quotes from Iranian press 18 May 04". BBC News. May 18, 2004.
  38. ↑ "Interview with Said Saim, Palestinian Minister of the Interior, discussing the security chaos in the Palestinian territories, the Palestinian national dialogue and relations with other Arab countries". Federal News Service. May 29, 2006.
  39. ↑ "Calm on Israel-Lebanon front belied by talk of war". Reuters. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  40. 1 2 3 Goodarzi, Jubin (August 2013). "Iran and Syria at the Crossroads: The Fall of the Tehran-Damascus Axis?" (PDF). Viewpoints. Wilson Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  41. 1 2 "Iran: We're in 'axis of resistance' with Syria". CBS News. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  42. ↑ 50 tons of weapons seized by Israel, Telegraph, 16 March 2011
  43. ↑ Israel pursues strikes on Lebanon, BBC, 14 July 2006
  44. ↑ GILLERMAN FINGERS 'AXIS OF TERROR', JPost, 22 Feb 2006
  45. ↑ Sullivan, Marisa (April 2014), Hezbollah in Syria (PDF), Institute for the Study of War
  46. ↑ Sullivan, Marisa (April 2014), Hezbollah in Syria (PDF), Institute for the Study of War, "Opposition is greatest with Lebanon’s Sunni community, which view Hezbollah as choosing sides in sectarian conflict, killing fellow Muslims, and losing sight of its resistance to Israel."
  47. ↑ Wieland, Carsten (2016). "10: Syrian-Lebanese relations". In Felsch, Wahlisch, Maximilian, Martin (ed.). Lebanon and the Arab Uprisings: In the eye of the Hurricane. 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017: Routledge. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-138-88584-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  48. ↑ Hussein, Ibish (23 March 2019). "As the Syrian war ends, the axis of resistance has been exposed for the illusion it always was". The National. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  49. ↑ "Challenging the Axis of Resistance: Syria, Iran and the Strategic Balance in the Middle East". USIP. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  50. ↑ Sullivan, Marisa (April 2014), Hezbollah in Syria (PDF), Institute for the Study of War, "Hezbollah’s support for Assad seeks to achieve three broad objectives. First, Hezbollah seeks to preserve the Axis of Resistance by shoring up the military capabilities of the Assad regime. Second, Hezbollah also seeks to retain access to Iranian and Syrian material support by securing the lines of communication that run from Damascus to Lebanon from any rebel interference....Third, the group also seeks to prevent the emergence of a Sunni-dominated regime in Syria"
  51. ↑ The Alawi capture of power in Syria, Middle Eastern Studies, 1989
  52. ↑ "Syrian DM Stresses Tehran-Damascus Joint Confrontation against Attacks". Fars News Agency. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  53. ↑ "PFLP Boasts About its Ties to Iran | FDD's Long War Journal". 12 November 2021.
  54. ↑ "الرئيس الإيراني يستقبل وفدا من الجبهة الشعبية".
  55. ↑ "Syria crisis causes Iran-led 'axis of resistance' to fray". CS Monitor. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  56. ↑ "Hamas rattles the Resistance Axis". Al Alarabiya News. 3 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  57. ↑ "Hamas leaders meet Assad in Damascus to 'turn the page'". Reuters. 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  58. ↑ Ibrahim, Arwa. "Iranian support vital for Hamas after ties restored with Syria". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  59. ↑ Sources:
    • Al Qedra, Ahmed (May 2022). "Russian foreign policy towards the GCC". Journal of Crises and Political Research. 6 (1): 41–66 – via dergipark.org. the most obvious thing is the unprecedented development in Russia's relations with the Arab Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, in the context of Russia's pursuit of a strategic partnership in the energy field, with the GCC countries
    • "Russia in the Middle East After Ukraine". Center for Strategic & International Studies. 2023-01-24. Arab states have pursued their distinct economic, security, and political interests with Russia for years,.. For the Egyptians, it's grain supplies or the fact that Rosatom is going ahead with building the El Dabaa nuclear power plant. For the Saudis or the Emiratis, it's more alignment in global oil markets or expanded business ties.
    • Chulov, Martin (5 October 2022). "Putin and the prince: fears in west as Russia and Saudi Arabia deepen ties". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022.
  60. ↑ Al Qedra, Ahmed (May 2022). "Russian foreign policy towards the GCC". Journal of Crises and Political Research. 6 (1): 41–66 – via dergipark.org.
  61. ↑ Abdulrazaq, Tallha (28 January 2015). "The Axis of Resistance: Time to put up, or shut up". Middle East Monitor.
  62. ↑ Levitt, Matthew (2015). "Hezbollah: pulled between resistance to Israel and defense of Syria". CTC Sentinel: 5.
  63. ↑ Qanso, Wafiq (18 September 2014). "Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and Russia vs. the US-led anti-ISIS alliance: Cooperation or confrontation?". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  64. 1 2 Synovitz, Ron (27 December 2021). "Regional Powers Seek To Fill Vacuum Left By West's Retreat From Afghanistan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  65. ↑ "Iran and the Taliban after the US fiasco in Afghanistan". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  66. ↑ kayhan.ir (August 25, 2021). "اقتصاد مقاومت(یادداشت روز)". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  67. ↑ "At least three killed in clash on Iran-Afghan border". Reuters. 27 May 2023.
  68. ↑ "Clashes over Iran-Afghanistan's 'border misunderstanding' ended". Reuters. 1 December 2021.
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