Iran's "Axis of Resistance"
Structure and Setbacks
The "Axis of Resistance" is Iran's strategic network of allied state and non-state actors across West Asia, serving as the principal vehicle for Iran's projection of regional influence. It includes Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Palestine/Gaza), the Houthi movement (Yemen), Popular Mobilisation Forces (Iraq), and the former Assad government (Syria).
- Hezbollah: the most militarily significant proxy; severely weakened by Israel's 2024 campaign that killed its leadership including Hassan Nasrallah
- Syrian connection: Assad's fall in December 2024 severed Iran's key land corridor to Lebanon, degrading Hezbollah's resupply lines
- Houthis (Ansar Allah): Yemen-based; have attacked Red Sea shipping since late 2023 to pressure Israel/West over Gaza; designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the US
- The cumulative weakening of these proxies has reduced Iran's ability to deter Israeli or US military action through asymmetric escalation
● Tracked since February 19, 2026 · last seen May 20, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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