Over the past year, Israel's military actions have taken a toll on Iran's network of militias, with experts noting the diminishing capabilities of groups like Hezbollah, raising questions about their future military responses.
Israel's Strikes Reveal Weakness in Iran's Militant Network
Israel's Strikes Reveal Weakness in Iran's Militant Network
A recent series of Israeli airstrikes has exposed significant degradation in Iran's "Axis of Resistance," as proxy groups like Hezbollah struggle to respond.
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israeli forces launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets on June 13, highlighting the significant decline of the "Axis of Resistance," a coalition of militias loyal to Tehran. For the past four decades, Iran has invested heavily—billions of dollars and extensive military resources—into building these proxy groups across the Middle East. However, experts indicate that the latest Israeli actions underscore the weakened state of these forces, which now seem unable to mount a coherent defense against Israeli aggression.
This shift is particularly evident in Hezbollah, regarded as Iran's most formidable military ally in the region. Following the recent Israeli strikes, Hezbollah issued a condemnation but notably refrained from declaring any military reprisal—a stark contrast to its historical role as a vigorous actor against Israeli forces. Mohanad Hage Ali, a research fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, described the situation: “The axis hasn’t been fully destroyed, but it has been significantly diminished beyond the point of return. It has transformed into an axis of sitting ducks waiting for the next Israeli strikes.”
Originally, Iran established these armed groups, including Hamas and various militia factions in Iraq and Yemen, as part of a broader strategy to confront Israel and counter potential Israeli strikes against Iran itself. In the wake of catastrophic Hamas-led assaults on Israel in October 2023 and Israel's subsequent military response in Gaza, these militants initially retaliated. However, as the Israeli campaign has intensified, so too has the muted response from the Axis of Resistance.
The situation for Hezbollah specifically has been dire, following a punishing 14-month conflict with Israel that decimated its leadership, depleted significant military resources, and burdened Lebanon with crippling reconstruction costs. The group has faced increasing political backlash, as widespread discontent mounts over its role in dragging Lebanon into one of its most devastating wars in recent history. As tensions persist, observers remain cautious about the implications for regional stability and the potential re-emergence of Hezbollah and other militias as effective military entities.
