Iran’s strategic architecture, centered on arming a regional network of non-state actors termed the Axis of Resistance, has eroded significantly over the past year and failed to deter Israel and U.S. military action against Iranian territory. Iran’s non-state allies constitute a force multiplier for Tehran, but they are often constrained by the political and social environment in their countries of origin. At Washington’s urging, governments in the region, particularly Lebanon and Iraq, are taking advantage of the weakening of Iran’s allies to exercise full sovereignty over their territories. In the absence of pressure on their forces on the ground in Yemen, the Houthis, although weakened by air strikes, continue to attack Israeli and Western interests.
The Diminished Strategic Value of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” – The Soufan Center
