The Axis of Resistance

The axis of resistance is a military alliance between Iran, Hamas, the Syrian government, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Pro-Syrian Ba'athist militias, Iraqi Shia militias, and the Yemeni Houthi movement.

Despite the alliance's differing ideologies and religious traditions, they are unified by their declared objectives of opposing the activities of pro-Western parties, Israel, Arab Gulf states, and dissidents in Iran.

THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN IRAN

The 1979 victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran was a seminal even in the modern history of the Middle East, the consequences of which continue to shape the region.

Iranian revolutionary movements, including the followers of Ayatollah Khomeini, trained with the Palestinians in Lebanon since the early 1970’s.

After Khomeini’s victory, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was established to consolidate and to export the Islamic Revolution. (PDF)

By 1981 Khomeini’s lieutenants, long active in Lebanon, had founded Hezbollah, the Islamic revolution in Lebanon.

In 1982 the IRGC was sent to Lebanon to organize and train Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley with support from the Iranian ambassador in Damascus, himself a founding figure of the group.

Since 1983, Hezbollah has been Iran’s long arm in the region striking against the US and its allies.

Hezbollah is the model for how Iran exports its Islamic revolution in the region: a military movement deeply embedded in society and government structures.

THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE

Iran calls its network of regional allies and assets, now spanning from Yemen to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, the Axis of Resistance.

The Axis of Resistance includes several militias funded, armed, trained and commanded by Iran and its Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“The Axis of Resistance . . . aims to annihilate and wipe out Israel from existence,” said Abdul Majeed Awad, head of Hamas’s political and media relations office in Lebanon.