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Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 20:23 IST
US-Israel-Iran war: What is Iran's Axis of Resistance? Who are its members? Why was it formed? Is it fully broken now? News18 explains
Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (AFP File File)
The joint strikes by the United States (US) and Israel have put Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ in a state of unprecedented disarray. The military operations have severely degraded the network’s leadership and logistical capabilities.
What is the Axis of Resistance? Who are its members? Is it fully broken? News18 explains
WHAT IS THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE?
The Axis of Resistance is an informal, Iran-led military and political coalition in the Middle East. It is primarily composed of state and non-state actors united by their opposition to the influence of Israel and the United States in the region.
The coalition is a decentralised network of groups that coordinate strategically while maintaining varying degrees of autonomy:
Iran: The central anchor and primary provider of funding, weapons, and ideological guidance.
Hezbollah (Lebanon): Widely considered the most powerful non-state member, acting as a “strategic arm" for Iran.
Hamas & Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Gaza/West Bank): Palestinian militant groups that have received extensive Iranian support for their fight against Israel.
The Houthis (Yemen): A Zaydi Shia movement that has used Iranian-supplied missiles and drones to target Israel and Red Sea shipping.
Iraqi Militias: Groups under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), such as Kata’ib Hezbollah, which target U.S. and Israeli interests.
Syria (Former Full Member): The regime of Bashar al-Assad was a core state member until its fall in December 2024, which severed a critical supply link between Iran and Lebanon.
WHY WAS IT FORMED?
The term was coined in the early 2000s as a direct counter to U.S. President George W. Bush’s “Axis of Evil". The coalition’s roots trace back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which established a doctrine of “resistance" against Western hegemony.
The primary goals of the Axis include:
Denying Israel’s legitimacy and supporting Palestinian armed struggle.
Opposing American military presence and political dominance in the Middle East.
Creating a “land bridge" from Tehran to the Mediterranean to project Iranian power.
WHAT IS ITS CURRENT STATUS?
A joint US-Israeli air campaign on February 28, 2026, resulted in the confirmed death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This followed the earlier assassinations of key proxy leaders, including Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah in 2024.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024 and the installation of a new government in early 2025 severed the vital land bridge connecting Tehran to its proxies in Lebanon.
Extensive strikes have crippled Iran’s ability to produce long-range ballistic missiles and rendered its energy facilities vulnerable.
The alliance currently resembles “isolated islands" rather than a unified war machine, say analysts. While Hamas and Hezbollah have been significantly weakened, groups like the Houthis remain active and are deepening ties with other extremist elements to continue the fight.
Despite these setbacks, Iran’s interim leadership council has vowed revenge, and retaliatory missile strikes were launched against Israel and US facilities across the Middle East.
First Published:
March 03, 2026, 19:12 IST
News explainers Iran’s Axis Of Resistance Shattered After US-Israel Strikes? What Is It & Who Are Its Members? Explained
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