2023-11-22 22:30:35
Experts describe the links between Iran and the Houthis as an “axis of resistance”. It is a sort of conglomeration of militia networks, which has the same anti-American and anti-Zionist ideals and which brings together several militias including the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis of Yemen but also in Iraq and even militias in Afghanistan.
These different militias have in common that they are oriented and, to some extent, brought together by Iran. They are also largely financed by Tehran. As Didier Leroy explains, the “Iranian axis of resistance” is in reality “a montage of militia phenomena which constitutes life insurance for Iran in its balance of power with its enemies in the region: Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States”.
For Vincent Eiffling, on an ideological, almost existential level, “These movements are convinced that their survival depends on their resistance to the West and the values of the West of which Israel would be the extension in the Middle East.”
In this context, the Houthi rebels of Yemen constitute “one of the elements of the militia assembly that Iran has strived to develop in its balance of power with its Israeli enemy”explains Didier Leroy.
Despite everything, Iran has no interest in entering into open conflict with Israel. But, as David Rigoulet-Roze explains, this type of operation also shows the mobilization capacity of “one of its proxies, and not the least.” In the context of the war in Gaza, according to Vincent Eiffling, “Iran will do everything to annoy the Israelis as much as possible while acting in the most indirect way possible. On this, the Houthis can be a good screen”.
So, this axis of resistancethrough its logic of armed militias distilled across the Middle East can be a tool for Iran to continue to maintain pressure on Israel without crossing a red line.
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