| Axis of Resistance | |
|---|---|
| Leaders |
|
| Group(s) | Primary |
| Headquarters | Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon |
|---|---|
| Ideology | Anti-Zionism Anti-West Anti-Salafism Opposition to American, Israeli and Saudi interests in the Middle East Opposition to the MEK |
| Political position | Several different positions |
| Status | Active unofficial military alliance |
| Allies |
|
| Battles and wars | Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Syrian civil war |
The term Axis of Resistance (Persian: محور مقاومت, romanized: mehvar–e moqâvemat, Arabic: محور المقاومة, romanized: miḥwar al-muqāwamah; Russian: Ось сопротивления, romanized: Os' soprotivleniya) refers to an anti-Western, anti-Israeli, and anti-Saudi political and informal military alliance between Iran, militant groups in Palestine, the Syrian Government, and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Pro-Syrian Ba'athist militias, Iraqi Shia militias that are part of the Iraqi Government-sanctioned Popular Mobilization Forces, and the Yemeni Houthi movement (officially: "Ansar Allah") are also considered part of the alliance.
Despite the alliance's differing ideologies, such as secular Ba'athism, Shia Khomeinism, etc., they are unified by their declared objectives of opposing the activities of pro-Western parties, Israel, Arab Gulf states, Sunni militants and the MEK in the region. Russia and China have also been considered by Iran as part of the alliance, due to their anti-Western political stance and mostly positive relations with Iran and Syria. Despite Russia's military intervention in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad, it has maintained friendly relations with Arab Gulf States; with the objective of deepening economic co-operation, particularly in the energy sector. China's Middle East policy is based on neutrality and enhancing friendly relations with Arab monarchies.
History
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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." 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."
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."
The term "axis of resistance" was used as early as August 2010. 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.
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. He 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.
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." The alliance has been described as an "Axis of Terror" by the prime minister and ambassadors of Israel.
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.
Background
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. 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. 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.
Analysis
The axis has been described as altering "the strategic balance in the Middle East" by assisting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to remain in power and backing his war-crimes against Syrian civilians. According to Marisa Sullivan, the programme of the Axis has 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. 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. This common background has made them strategic allies on various issues, including defense.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, although a Marxist-Leninist formation, is generally considered part of the Axis of Resistance, and receives support from Iran. 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. However, in October 2022, Hamas restored ties with Syria after reconciliation with the support of mediation by Iran.
While Russia is considered by Syrian government and Iran to be part of the Axis, it also enjoins friendly relations with the Arab monarchies. 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. Vladimir Putin's anti-Western foreign policy concept unveiled in 2023 prioritises the strengthening of alliances with Iran, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other countries of the Islamic World; by "reconciling differences and normalizing relations" between these nations. In addition to enhancing economic ties to create a "Greater Eurasian Partnership", the document also calls for:
"promoting interfaith and intercultural dialog and understanding, consolidating efforts to protect traditional spiritual and moral values, and combating Islamophobia, including via the Organization of Islamic Cooperation."
Iran–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".
Iran–Russia
Many militant groups had supported Russia during the wars that the country was involved in.
China–Iran
China–Russia
China–Syria
Russia–Syria
Axis of resistance vs. 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. 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."
Axis of resistance vs. ISIS
Hezbollah rejects the idea of Lebanon helping in the U.S.-led intervention in Iraq, arguing that it may lead to the U.S. domination in the region or "substituting terrorism with flagrant US occupation".
Taliban’s Afghanistan–Iran
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.”
The prominent Principlist daily publication in Iran, Kayhan, has also begun referring to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as a member of the Axis of Resistance. The Taliban have traditionally had close ties with Pakistan, a close ally of China.
