Iran’s allied militias prove their value in Tehran’s widening war

After years of struggle, Iran's allied militias appear to be regaining strength in the Middle East, bolstering Tehran's influence in its ongoing war with the United States and Israel. These groups, part of the "Axis of Resistance" - an anti-Israel and anti-Western alliance backed by the Islamic Republic - have historically played a crucial role as a powerful deterrent against direct attacks on Iran.

However, the axis was weakened by Israel's large-scale military response to the 2023 Hamas attack, leading to direct conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran.

Experts suggest that following the weakened state of the Axis of Resistance, Iran was unable to withstand attacks from both the US and Israel, resulting in the loss of key leaders such as Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah, and former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response to this, Iran has re-invested in its forward defense strategy, according to Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

The resurgence of Iran's regional allies is significantly impacting the war and threatening to impact the global economy by opening new fronts. Danny Citrinowicz, former head of Israel's military intelligence branch, noted that the Axis of Resistance "is not disappearing, but it is changing." While these allies serve Tehran's interests, their allegiance is influenced by complex political motivations, as noted by Ali Ahmadi, a fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and Middle East Institute Switzerland.