For decades, the Shiite Muslim ayatollahs who came to power in Iran through the 1979 Islamic Revolution have worked to build an arc of like-minded proxy forces across the Middle East.
Training and arming extremist, nonstate militia groups throughout the region have been pillars of Iran’s foreign and security policy. What the Islamic Republic calls the “Axis of Resistance,” others often describe as a “Shiite Crescent” that stretches from Yemen on the southern Arabian Peninsula through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, and back down to the Gaza Strip.
When Israel pulled back from most of neighbouring Lebanon three years after its 1982 invasion, its army remained along a thin border strip. But the toll from constant clashes with Hezbollah forced a withdrawal in 2000. Hezbollah fought a 33-day war with Israel again in 2006, and there have been almost daily exchanges of fire since October 7.
The Assad regime has long supported radical Palestinian factions, but Hamas broke with Syria in 2012 over the widespread arrest, torture and killing of countless Sunni Muslim insurgents. Assad is unlikely to want to open another front to help Hamas, especially since he continues to struggle to gain control over his country.
The effort to first drive out the US forces and then the Islamic State terrorist group allowed Iran and its allies to hone the use of militias and violence to attain their goals. Shiite Houthi soliders in Sanaa, Yemen, said to be backed by Iran, are at war with Arab-backed forces.The movement emerged in strength after 2014 as a political and armed organisation whose leadership comes from the Houthi tribe, former rulers of northern Yemen whose faith is a Shiite offshoot known as Zaidi Shiism. The movement modelled itself on Hezbollah.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, right, meets with Ziad al-Nakhleh, the head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, centre, and Hamas deputy chief, Saleh al-Arouri, in Beirut, Lebanon. The photo is dated October 25.One goal of the bloody Hamas incursion, which killed at least 1,400 Israelis, with at least 229 more taken hostage, could well have been to disrupt a brewing peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which would have left Iran isolated in the region.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden issues strict warning for Iran to tread carefully in Middle EastUnited States President Joe Biden has returned stern warnings to Iran after its Foreign Minister declared the superpower will not be spared if it continues fuelling war in the Middle East.
Read more »
Sydney councils grapple with response to Middle East conflictLocal councillors have been facing criticism over attitudes towards the October 7 terrorist attacks and the flying of Israeli and Palestinian flags.
Read more »
‘Unbelievable’ ancient find in Middle EastA dig in the Middle East has uncovered statue of a winged deity, which was almost entirely intact despite its size.
Read more »
Israel Gaza Hamas: Australian bipartisanship splinters over the Middle EastConflating immigration with terrorism is just a quick way of importing the tensions of the Middle East into Australia.
Read more »
INTERVIEW: Police Commander Jo Stafford on the law enforcement response to the Middle East crisisPolice have been stepping up their patrols as the Middle East conflict intensifies and brings people to the streets with almost daily protests.
Read more »
EU leaders reach agreement on the Middle East calling for humanitarian corridors in GazaHeads of 27 member states will attempt show of unity at Brussels meeting as disagreements continue over approach to Israel and Gaza conflict
Read more »