Avinash Barnwal

Avinash Barnwal

Scientist with interests in Finance and Machine Learning

Israel and Iran War

1 minute read

Published:

1979 Iranian Revolution:

  • Overthrew the Shah, ending a monarchy that had lasted thousands of years.
  • Established a theocratic Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
  • Revolution was fueled by anti-imperialism, with Iran turning against the U.S. and Israel.

Creation of the “Axis of Resistance”:

  • Iran developed a strategy called “forward defense,” building a network of allied militias across the Middle East.
  • These groups act as Iran’s proxies to extend its influence and counter its adversaries, mainly the U.S. and Israel.

Hezbollah (Lebanon):

  • Formed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in response to Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon.
  • Played a major role in forcing Israel to withdraw from Lebanon in 2000.
  • Today, it is a powerful political and military force with a large arsenal of rockets aimed at Israel.

Hamas & Islamic Jihad (Palestine):

  • Both groups oppose Israel and reject peace agreements signed by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
  • Hamas, formed during the first Palestinian intifada, and Islamic Jihad both receive political and limited material support from Iran.
  • These groups are part of Iran’s regional network, with Hamas launching attacks on Israel, including the October 7, 2023 incident.

Houthis (Yemen):

  • The Houthi movement, inspired by the Iranian Revolution and Hezbollah, grew into a significant force in Yemen.
  • In 2015, they captured the Yemeni capital Sanaa and control much of northern Yemen.
  • The Houthis have attacked Israeli targets and U.S. interests as part of this broader conflict.

Hashad al-Shabi (Iraq & Syria):

  • Iran-supported Shia militias that fought against ISIS and are now influential in Iraq and Syria.
  • These militias are powerful in Iraq, and continue to target U.S. bases in the region.

Escalating Conflict:

  • After Hamas’ recent attack on Israel, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other groups began attacking Israel and U.S. interests.
  • This has led to retaliatory strikes, escalating tensions between Iran’s Axis of Resistance and Israel and its allies.

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