Jump to content

Axis of Resistance

Extended-protected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Axis of Resistance
Leaders
Group(s)Primary
HeadquartersIran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Northwestern Yemen and Gaza Strip
Ideology
Political positionBig tent
StatusActive unofficial military alliance
Allies
Allies

Non-state allies

Opponents
Opponents

Non-state opponents

Former opponents
Battles and wars

The Axis of Resistance (Persian: محور مقاومت Mehvar-e Moqâvemat;[29] Arabic: محور المقاومة Miḥwar al-Muqāwamah) is an informal Iranian-led political and military coalition in the Middle East.[30][31] Some media outlets and figures supporting the Resistance Axis refer to it as the Empire of the Resistance[32] [33] [34] [35]

It most notably includes the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Syrian government, Lebanese Hezbollah, and the Yemeni Houthi movement.[b] It sometimes[36][37] includes Hamas,[c] and a variety of other Palestinian militant groups.[38][39][40]

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.[41] The coalition is also opposed to Sunni Salafist armed groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS.[42]

History

Etymology

The term "Axis of Resistance" 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. Its 2002 article, "Axis of evil or axis of resistance", said "the only common denominator among Iran, Iraq, and North Korea is their resistance to US hegemony".[43] The Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami subsequently adopted the language in reference to the Shia insurgency in Iraq, writing in 2004: "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."[44]

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."[45]

The term "axis of resistance" was used as early as August 2010.[46] 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.[47]

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.[48] 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.[47]

Foundation

In the wake of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, some of the most radical founders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps such as Mohammad Montazeri (who had been trained by the Palestinian Fatah in Southern Lebanon and maintained close relations with Gaddafi's Libya) and Mostafa Chamran (who had visited Cuba and was influenced by revolutionary internationalism) strove to create what is often called an "Islamic Internationale",[49] drawing upon Ali Shariati's and Ayatollah Khomeini's notions of the "solidarity of the oppressed".[50] Montazeri and Chamran, along with Ali Akbar Mohtashamipur, Iran's ambassador to Syria from 1982, created the Department for Islamic Liberation Movements, as part of the People's Revolutionary Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose aim was to bring together the activities of the outlawed Iraqi Islamic Dawa Party and Badr Organization with those of the Lebanese Amal and Hezbollah movements.[51] The Department for Islamic Liberation Movements is thought to have been the starting point of Iranian attempts of forging what was later to become known as the Axis of Resistance.[52]

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.[53] After the beginning of Russian involvement in the Syrian civil war, a slew of posters showing images of Nasrallah, Assad, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali 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. This coalition has been described as "deeply polarising" for its sectarian targeting of Sunni Syrians.[54] Hezbollah's actions have also arisen denunciation in Lebanon, most notably from Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, 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.[55] 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.[56][57]

Members

Forum for Resistance meeting in Lebanon, 2009

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).[58] 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.[59] Soleimani's achievements led to the creation of an axis of Shia influence throughout the Middle East centered on Iran.[60] 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.[61]

Hezbollah

Hezbollah was founded by Lebanese clerics to fight Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982.[62][63] The group is an influential political actor in Lebanon, shares the Shiite Islam ideology of Iran. It has increased its attacks on Israeli targets on the Lebanon-Israel border almost daily since the start of Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, in order to stop Israel from attacking Gaza, sparking the heaviest exchange of fire between the adversaries since full-scale war in 2006.[63]

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".[47] 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.[64] 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.[65] 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.[66] This common background has made them strategic allies on various issues, including defense.[67] 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".[48] The alliance has been described as an "Axis of Terror" by the prime minister and ambassadors of Israel.[68][69][70]

Iraqi groups

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.[71]

Iranian officials claimed on 30 October 2023 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 during the Israel–Hamas war.[72]

Yemeni Houthis

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the commander of the Houthi movement in Yemen, declared on 10 October 2023 that the organisation would retaliate by using missiles and drones in addition to other military measures if the United States got involved in the Gaza conflict.[73]

On 19 October 2023, Yemen begun their missile and drone campaign against Israel in which the United States Navy destroyer USS Carney shot down three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones heading toward Israel. This was the first action by the Houthis in Yemen on Israel. It was later reported that the ship shot down four cruise missiles and 15 drones.[74] Another missile was reportedly intercepted by Saudi Arabia.[75] More were intercepted by Israel's Arrow anti-ballistic missiles; others fell short of their targets or were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force and the French Navy.

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.[76]

Palestinian groups

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.[77][78] 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. As of March 2012, the group has since pulled its headquarters out of Damascus and thrown its support behind the anti-Assad Syrian opposition.[79][80] In October 2022, Hamas restored ties with Syria after reconciliation with the support of mediation by Iran.[81][82]

Opponents

Despite the alliance members' differing ideologies and domestic interests,[83] they serve the broader goal of complicating Israel's attacks and imposing a cost on the United States to support Israel.[84]

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 Middle East Monitor, and it took a severe blow after the Israeli Mazraat Amal air strike.[85][better source needed] Three days before that airstrike against the Hezbollah convoy, Hezbollah 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."[86] The Guardian pointed out that it "is a network of autonomous militant Islamist groups through which Iran can project power, determine the course of events and deter attack by Israel or the US".[87]

As a result of the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war on 7 October 2023, Hezbollah of Lebanon, the Yemeni Houthis, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and other factions in Syria have launched drone and missile attacks on Israel. Hezbollah launched its operations against Israel on 8 October 2023, whereas Yemen began launching its operations on 19 October 2023, and the Islamic Resistance of Iraq began launching its operations on 2 November 2023.

In April 2024, Iran launched a missile and drone attack against Israel with its supporting factions in response to the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus.

Islamic State

This axis became the main fighters against ISIS after the group took over almost a third of Iraq in 2014.[60] 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.[88] In 2012, Hezbollah deployed troops to support Syrian government forces against the FSA rebels, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. In 2013, Iran began deploying troops to support the Syrian government against the rebels and other factions. In both instances, the Iraqi government provided support, even having volunteers joining the battlefields in Syria.[89] Also, the Popular Mobilization Forces, which was established in 2014, became the main force in the fight against ISIS in Iraq.[90] In 2014, Hezbollah rejected the idea of Lebanon helping in the US-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".[91] During the war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the Axis of Resistance became more united, forming the 4+1 coalition which was a joint military cooperation coalition with Iran, Iraq, Syria, Russia and Hezbollah of Lebanon.[92]

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.[93]

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".[94]

Relationships with other countries

Relations with Russia

Russia's effort to expand its role in the Middle East is entwined with its relations with the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance. It is not a meaningful strategic alliance, but Russia and Iran share a common interest in preserving the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria,[95] where Russia has military bases (e.g. at Latakia and Tartus). Both countries seek to block US influence and regime change in Syria, which they believe would challenge their own power in the region and potentially lead to regime change in Iran.[95] Since 2015, there has been Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war in support of the Assad government. It was allegedly prompted by a visit to Moscow by Iran's Qasem Soleimani, where he asked Moscow to directly support the regime against the Syrian opposition forces. Russia has provided air support to the regime and to Iranian-backed forces in Syria.[95] However, despite cooperation with Iran in Syria, Russia has maintained close ties with Israel and Arab Gulf states[96][97][98] and has been pursuing normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.[99] Russia has allowed repeated Israeli airstrikes inside Syria.[95] During the Israel–Hamas war, Russia condemned both the Hamas attack and Israel's response,[100] but Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that Israel's goals in Gaza were similar to Russia's goals in its invasion of Ukraine.[101][102]

Relations with Afghanistan

Iran was accused of supporting the Taliban during the war in Afghanistan.[103][104] Ali Akbar Velayati[105] and Hassan Kazemi Qomi[106] 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".[105]

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.
  2. ^ Officially the Ansarullah movement, de facto government in Northwestern Yemen since 28 July 2016 under the Supreme Political Council.
  3. ^ Islamic Resistance Movement, de facto government of the Gaza Strip since 2006.

References

  1. ^ "The Huseynyun: Iran's new IRGC-backed movement in Azerbaijan". Middle East Monitor. October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Iran Update, October 18, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 2023-10-18. Archived from the original on 2023-12-14. 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. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 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. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  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. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Hamas quashes armed Shiite movement Sabireen in Gaza". Al-Monitor. 21 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. ^ Jay Solomon (2017-11-27). "High-Level Contacts Between North Korea and Iran Hint at Deeper Military Cooperation". Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Archived from the original on 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  11. ^ "Iranian press review: Venezuela part of 'Axis of Resistance', says Maduro". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  12. ^ Barnes-Dacey, Julien (20 September 2024). RUSSIA’S RETURN TO THE MIDDLE EAST: BUILDING SANDCASTLES?. European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) (published 1 July 2018). pp. 65–70.
  13. ^ "Defending Latin America's Resistance Axis | Un enfoque diferente - Nicaragua - a different focus".
  14. ^ Vivian Nereim (13 September 2023). "U.S. Deepens Security Pledge to Bahrain, an Adversary of Iran". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  15. ^ Michael Scollon (19 October 2023). "Iran's 'Axis Of Resistance': A Network Designed To Create Chaos, Fight Tehran's Enemies". Radio Free Europe. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  16. ^ Fatima Al-Kassab (26 October 2023). "What is the 'axis of resistance' of Iran-backed groups in the Middle East?". NPR. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  17. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ Alkhshali, Hamdi; Starr, Barbara (28 February 2017). "Deputy al Qaeda leader killed In Syria". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022.
  20. ^ "IRAN'S SHADOW WAR ON ISIS". 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  21. ^ Nadimi, Farzim (10 September 2014). "Iran Is Expanding Its Military Role in Iraq in a Bunch of Ways". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  22. ^ "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.
  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. Archived from the original on 2017-09-17. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  25. ^ "Egypt voices support for Russia's moves in Syria". Reuters. 2015-10-04. Archived from the original on 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  26. ^ "Victory for Assad looks increasingly likely as world loses interest in Syria". The Guardian. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  28. ^ "UAE reopens Syria embassy in boost for Assad". Reuters. 27 December 2018. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  29. ^ "جبهه مقاومت". Khamenei.ir (in Persian).
  30. ^ "Syria: Iran vows it will not allow Assad to fall". The Telegraph. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  31. ^ Al-Kassab, Fatima (26 October 2023). "What is the 'axis of resistance' of Iran-backed groups in the Middle East?". NPR. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  32. ^ The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA): Secretary General of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba: We will give a powerful and coordinated response to America from across the Empire of Resistance (Farsi), 8 January 2020; Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  33. ^ Mashregh News: Infography/Resistance Empire Territory (Farsi), 19 February 2020; Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  34. ^ Student News Network (SNN): West Asia is the territory of the Resistance Empire with the Islamic Republic as its capital (Farsi), 19 February 2020; Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  35. ^ Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA): The formation of the Resistance Empire in the world is the fruit of the Basij (Farsi), 22 November 2024; Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Flexible Resistance: How Hezbollah and Hamas Are Mending Ties". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  37. ^ "What links Hamas to the 'Axis of Resistance' and Iran as its patron?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  38. ^ "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.
  39. ^ "Iran: Syria part of 'axis of resistance'". CNN. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  40. ^ 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
  41. ^ "IntelBrief: Differences Affect Iranian 'Axis of Resistance' Response to Mideast Crisis". INTELBRIEF. The Soufan Center. 21 November 2023.
  42. ^ Arango, Tim (13 Jan 2020). "Qassim Suleimani, Master of Iran's Intrigue, Built a Shiite Axis of Power in Mideast". The New York Times. New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  43. ^ "Collapse of US-Libyan Talks Highlighted by Revived Anti-US Rhetoric from Tripoli". Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily. February 12, 2002.
  44. ^ "BBC Monitoring quotes from Iranian press 18 May 04". BBC News. May 18, 2004.
  45. ^ "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.
  46. ^ "Calm on Israel-Lebanon front belied by talk of war". Reuters. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  47. ^ a b c 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.
  48. ^ a b "Iran: We're in 'axis of resistance' with Syria". CBS News. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  49. ^ Ali Alfoneh (2013). Iran Unveiled: How the Revolutionary Guards Is Transforming Iran from Theocracy into Military Dictatorship. Washington, DC: AEI Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-8447-7255-4.
  50. ^ John L. Esposito, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality? Oxford University Press,(1992) pp. 146-151
  51. ^ Independent, 23 October 1991
  52. ^ Roger Faligot and Remi Kauffer, Les Maitres Espions, (Paris: Robert Laffont, 1994) pp. 412–13
  53. ^ Sullivan, Marisa (April 2014), Hezbollah in Syria (PDF), Institute for the Study of War, archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-11-04, retrieved 2015-06-26
  54. ^ Schenker, David (7 October 2015). "Putin and the Shiite 'Axis of Resistance'". The Hill. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. 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.
  55. ^ Sullivan, Marisa (April 2014), Hezbollah in Syria (PDF), Institute for the Study of War, archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-11-04, retrieved 2015-06-26, "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."
  56. ^ Wieland, Carsten (2016). "10: Syrian-Lebanese relations". In Felsch, Maximilian; Wahlisch, Martin (eds.). Lebanon and the Arab Uprisings: In the eye of the Hurricane. New York, NY: Routledge. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-138-88584-4.
  57. ^ 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.
  58. ^ "جمهوری اسلامی دولت مقاومت است". Khamenei.ir (in Persian).
  59. ^ Ostovar, Afshon (2016). Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Oxford University Press. p. 227. ISBN 9780199387892.
  60. ^ a b Arango, Tim (13 Jan 2020). "Qassim Suleimani, Master of Iran's Intrigue, Built a Shiite Axis of Power in Mideast". The New York Times. New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  61. ^ "Global coalition should be formed against US bullying". Mehr News Agency. 2023-12-04. Archived from the original on 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  62. ^ "Who Are Hezbollah?". BBC News. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  63. ^ a b "What is Iran's 'Axis of Resistance'?". Reuters. 13 April 2024.
  64. ^ "Challenging the Axis of Resistance: Syria, Iran and the Strategic Balance in the Middle East". USIP. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  65. ^ Sullivan, Marisa (April 2014), Hezbollah in Syria (PDF), Institute for the Study of War, archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-11-04, retrieved 2015-06-26, "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"
  66. ^ Pipes, Daniel (1989). "The Alawi Capture of Power in Syria". Middle Eastern Studies. 25 (4): 429–450. doi:10.1080/00263208908700793. JSTOR 4283331. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  67. ^ "Syrian DM Stresses Tehran-Damascus Joint Confrontation against Attacks". Fars News Agency. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
  68. ^ 50 tons of weapons seized by Israel Archived 2011-03-18 at the Wayback Machine, Telegraph, 16 March 2011
  69. ^ Israel pursues strikes on Lebanon Archived 2022-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 14 July 2006
  70. ^ GILLERMAN FINGERS 'AXIS OF TERROR' Archived 2022-06-17 at the Wayback Machine, JPost, 22 Feb 2006
  71. ^ "What is Iran's 'axis of resistance' and why is it uniting in fury against the US and Israel?". 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  72. ^ "Iran says strikes on US troops are due to its support for Israel, presence in region". Times of Israel. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  73. ^ "Yemen's Houthis warn they will fire missiles, drones if US intervenes in Gaza conflict". Reuters. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  74. ^ Liebermann, Oren (20 October 2023). "Incident involving US warship intercepting missiles near Yemen lasted 9 hours". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  75. ^ "IntelBrief: Houthi Involvement in Mideast War Hinders Prospects for a Yemen Settlement". The Soufan Center. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  76. ^ "Yemen's Houthis 'will not stop' Red Sea attacks until Israel ends Gaza war". Al Jazeera. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  77. ^ "PFLP Boasts About its Ties to Iran | FDD's Long War Journal". 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  78. ^ "الرئيس الإيراني يستقبل وفدا من الجبهة الشعبية". Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  79. ^ "Syria crisis causes Iran-led 'axis of resistance' to fray". CS Monitor. 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  80. ^ "Hamas rattles the Resistance Axis". Al Alarabiya News. 3 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  81. ^ "Hamas leaders meet Assad in Damascus to 'turn the page'". Reuters. 2022-10-19. Archived from the original on 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  82. ^ Ibrahim, Arwa. "Iranian support vital for Hamas after ties restored with Syria". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-03. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  83. ^ "IntelBrief: Differences Affect Iranian 'Axis of Resistance' Response to Mideast Crisis". The Soufan Center. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023. The Hamas criticism might also reflect the underlying sectarian tensions within the alliance: Hamas is one of the only Sunni Muslim factions in the group (Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or PIJ, being the other). The others, including the Alawite family that dominates Syria, are Shias of varying schools of thought.
  84. ^ 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'". Russia's Return to the Middle East. European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS). pp. 65–70. JSTOR resrep21138.11. Archived from the original on 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  85. ^ Abdulrazaq, Tallha (28 January 2015). "The Axis of Resistance: Time to put up, or shut up". Middle East Monitor. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  86. ^ Levitt, Matthew (2015). "Hezbollah: pulled between resistance to Israel and defense of Syria". CTC Sentinel: 5. Archived from the original on 2015-12-20. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  87. ^ Burke, Jason (2024-01-14). "Iran's 'axis of resistance' is a potent coalition but a risky strategy". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  88. ^ Bengali, Shashank. "In Iraq, residents of Amerli celebrate end of militant siege". Archived from the original on 2014-09-05.
  89. ^ "Iraq admits Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian RG fight alongside Iraqi security forces - Iraqi News". 2018-06-15. Archived from the original on 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  90. ^ Farida, Mariam (1 February 2024). "What is Iran's 'axis of resistance' and why is it uniting in fury against the US and Israel?". The conversation.
  91. ^ 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.
  92. ^ "Gen. Soleimani led Russia-Syria-Iran-Iraq-Hezbollah coalition against terrorism: Venezuelan ambassador". Tehran Times. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  93. ^ Anne Barnard; Andrew E. Kramer (22 August 2016). "Iran Revokes Russia's Use of Air Base, Saying Moscow 'Betrayed Trust'". New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  94. ^ Tim, Anderson. "End of ISIS: a tremendous Axis of Resistance victory is unfolding". Khamenei.ir. Archived from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  95. ^ a b c d Barnes-Dacey, Julien (1 Jul 2018). "Russia and the 'resistance axis'". Russia's Return to the Middle East. European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS). pp. 65–70. JSTOR resrep21138.11. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  96. ^ Sources:
    • Al Qedra, Ahmed (May 2022). "Russian foreign policy towards the GCC". Journal of Crises and Political Research. 6 (1): 41–66. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03 – 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. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-05-04. 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.
  97. ^ "Ukraine lays out demands for Israel ahead of key visit to Kyiv". Axios. 5 February 2023.
  98. ^ Rakov, Daniel (28 February 2023). "The Netanyahu Government's Approach to Russia and Ukraine". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
  99. ^ Al Qedra, Ahmed (May 2022). "Russian foreign policy towards the GCC". Journal of Crises and Political Research. 6 (1): 41–66. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03 – via dergipark.org.
  100. ^ "Russia calls for international monitoring mission in Gaza". Reuters. 10 December 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  101. ^ "Lavrov appears to liken Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza to Russia's invasion of Ukraine". Times of Israel. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  102. ^ "Objectives of Israel's and Russia's Wars 'nearly Identical' – Did Lavrov Shift Position on Gaza?". Palestine Chronicle. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  103. ^ Giustozzi, Antonio (30 September 2021). "Russia and Iran: Disappointed Friends of the Taliban?". Royal United Services Institute. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  104. ^ Roggio, Bill (12 July 2021). "Taliban advances as U.S. completes withdrawal". FDD's Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  105. ^ a b Synovitz, Ron (27 December 2021). "Regional Powers Seek To Fill Vacuum Left By West's Retreat From Afghanistan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  106. ^ "Iranian Envoy To Kabul Sees Afghanistan As Part Of Tehran's 'Axis Of Resistance'". Radio Free Europe. 7 February 2024.