Iran's 'Axis of Resistance': The Proxy Network
How Tehran projects influence from Beirut to Sanaa
Iran has built a far-reaching network of proxies - the so-called axis of resistance - aimed at Israel, the United States, and regional rivals.
Live coverage
Open the live map and event feed for current developments.
The strategy of proxy warfare
Since 1979, Iran has relied on a layered proxy strategy to project power without direct invasion. The IRGC and its Quds Force fund, train, and arm aligned militias, allowing Tehran to influence battlefields from Lebanon to Yemen at relatively low cost.
Hezbollah as the core pillar
Hezbollah remains the strongest component of the network, combining political power, military capability, and deep strategic dependence on Iran. It is Tehran's most reliable deterrent against Israel and a key part of the regional balance of power.
Iraq: Shia militias and state weakness
In Iraq, Iran works through a cluster of Shia militias that sit partly inside the state and partly outside it. Their autonomy gives Tehran leverage while also undermining Iraqi sovereignty and complicating relations with the United States.
Yemen and the Red Sea
The Houthis are one of the most visible parts of the network. Their missile and drone attacks have turned the Red Sea into a global security problem and shown how proxy warfare can spill into international trade and maritime logistics.
Syria: military presence and supply lines
In Syria, Iran keeps a military presence to protect Assad's core territory, preserve supply lines to Hezbollah, and prevent strategic losses to Israel and its partners. Syria remains a crucial logistical bridge in the network.
The network's limits in 2025
The system is still dangerous, but it is not frictionless. Sanctions, battlefield losses, leadership changes, and local rivalries have exposed weaknesses across the network. Even so, Iran still retains a powerful mix of reach, deniability, and escalation leverage.
Related articles
More background reading from the wiki
The Syrian Civil War
A broad overview of the Syrian civil war from its beginnings in the Arab Spring to its internationalized, fragmented form today.
Hezbollah: The Party of God
Hezbollah is a powerful military and political force in Lebanon with deep ties to Iran and a central role in the wider Middle East conflict system.
The Houthi Movement: Rise and Ideology
A detailed analysis of the Houthi movement, its origins, ideology, military capacity, and attacks on maritime traffic.