Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, many fingers have been pointed at the Iranian regime, whose proximity to Palestinian Hamas is no longer a secret. But the Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip is far from being the only ally Tehran has. In the region, Iran's armed supporters - called "proxies" - are numerous.
Behind this Anglicism, which describes a relay or an agent acting for another by proxy, hide non-state but politically influential and armed groups which support the Iranian regime. Tehran offers them material and specialized support (intelligence or clandestine action), as explained by the Foundation for Strategic Research in 2020.
Thanks to these relays, Iran, which found itself isolated on the political scene after the 1979 revolution, was able to maintain influence in the Middle East and in part of Asia. This nebula of groups, called the “axis of resistance”, was particularly formed in countries with a significant Shiite minority (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, etc.), according to the FRS. The Mullah regime also relied on Sunni (including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad) or non-denominational support.
The influence of the Iranian al-Quds force
Within this “axis of resistance”, Tehran and its “proxies” are united around the same foreign policy which boils down to opposition to the United States and the Israeli state.
Iranian influence in surrounding countries has been particularly strengthened since the civil war in Syria and the international coalition's offensive against the Islamic State (also established in Iraq). Tehran also supports the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Beyond its own al-Quds force, which intervenes in all areas of Iranian influence (Iraq, Levant, Arabian Peninsula and Afghanistan) where it is responsible for intelligence, logistics, training and external command , Tehran can rely on regional armed groups: Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, the Zaynab People's Brigade in Pakistan, the Defense Forces national in Syria…
As proof of their support, two of them - Hezbollah and the Houthis - launched drones and rockets towards Israel on the night of Saturday to Sunday, just as Tehran was carrying out an unprecedented attack on the Jewish state. . It is precisely this solidarity that makes Westerners fear a conflagration of the entire region.