Iran’s war effort is no longer limited to Tehran’s own forces. Across the Middle East, the country’s Axis of Resistance partners are actively joining the fight, leveraging their geographic and political advantages to support Iran while challenging U.S., Israeli, and Arab influence in the region. The Soufan Center notes that this coordinated mobilization reflects Iran’s broader strategy of using proxy forces to multiply pressure on adversaries and ensure its long-term regional leverage.
Lebanese Hezbollah has emerged as a key actor in Iran’s war effort, striking Israel with missiles and drones shortly after hostilities began. The group’s involvement is intended to reassert deterrence against Israel, but Israel’s military response has drawn forces deep into Lebanon, displacing nearly one million civilians and escalating a humanitarian crisis. Hezbollah’s actions demonstrate how Iran’s allies balance loyalty to Tehran with domestic and regional pressures. The Lebanese government, wary of further destabilization, has urged disarmament, but Hezbollah leaders argue that continued armed resistance is justified to counter what they perceive as U.S.-Israel aggression.
In Iraq, Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Force (PMF) militias are playing an even more significant role. Groups like Kata’ib Hezbollah have long sought to expel U.S. forces from Iraq, and since the outbreak of the war, they have carried out drone and missile strikes on American bases, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and logistical centers across the country. These attacks have forced the U.S. to divert airpower away from strategic Iranian targets, while inadvertently straining relations with Baghdad. A retaliatory U.S. strike in Anbar province reportedly killed seven Iraqi military personnel and injured 13, highlighting the delicate balance Iraq faces between managing Iranian proxies and maintaining ties with the United States.
The PMF militias’ reach extends beyond Iraq, with weaponry capable of targeting key infrastructure in the Arab Gulf states. Recent attacks prompted Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan to demand that Baghdad halt such operations immediately. The Soufan Center highlights that continued aggression by these militias risks undermining Iraq’s regional relations and complicating Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani’s efforts to realign with Arab neighbors, even as Tehran benefits from the persistent pressure on U.S. and allied forces.
Meanwhile, the Houthis in Yemen present a unique strategic lever for Iran. Controlling territory along the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Houthis could disrupt global energy trade to pressure the U.S. into ending the conflict. Although their recent missile salvoes against Israel were largely symbolic and intercepted, the potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb could send global oil markets into turmoil, replicating some of the leverage Iran enjoys through the Strait of Hormuz. Yet, the Houthis remain cautious, aware that escalating directly against Saudi Arabia or the UAE could provoke renewed military campaigns, potentially stretching Tehran’s support and resources.
Hezbollah, the PMF, and the Houthis all share Iran’s ideological commitment to “resistance,” but their priorities and operational risks differ. Each group recognizes threats beyond the U.S. and Israel, meaning defending Iran is often one of multiple considerations. Hezbollah faces domestic pressure from Beirut and seeks to maintain its socio-political influence, while the PMF groups navigate a government seeking neutrality and continued U.S. military support. The Houthis must weigh strategic gains against the risk of resuming open war with Gulf powers. Despite these constraints, Iran has successfully integrated these proxies into its broader strategy, effectively extending the battlefield across multiple countries.
The humanitarian consequences of these proxy campaigns are severe. In Lebanon alone, Israeli airstrikes and incursions in response to Hezbollah attacks have killed more than 1,200 people and wounded over 3,400 since March 2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to widen the ground campaign to the Litani River, aiming to create a buffer zone against anti-tank missiles and further weaken Hezbollah. Experts predict that Israel may exchange captured territory for full Hezbollah disarmament and a formal peace agreement, but the conflict continues to devastate civilian populations.
Iran’s use of regional proxies underscores a broader strategic reality: by distributing military risk across allied non-state actors, Tehran can project power without committing its own forces extensively. The Soufan Center emphasizes that this strategy has allowed Iran to expand the war’s geographic scope while maintaining plausible deniability and leveraging the unique strengths of each proxy. Lebanese Hezbollah applies pressure on Israel, the PMF challenges U.S. influence in Iraq, and the Houthis can threaten vital maritime routes. Together, they create a complex and multi-dimensional battlefield that challenges conventional military responses.
While the Axis of Resistance is not fully synchronized, its combined actions have forced the U.S., Israel, and Gulf allies to contend with multiple threats simultaneously. The Soufan Center warns that the legacy of these engagements will persist even after the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict ends, as domestic and regional pressures will continue to drive proxy operations. In Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, the war has reinforced the political and military relevance of these groups, ensuring that the dynamics of Iran’s proxy network will influence the region long after the current conflict subsides.
Iran’s strategy of leveraging allied militias demonstrates the enduring potency of non-state actors in modern conflict. By exploiting geographic advantages, shared ideology, and local socio-political support, Tehran has amplified the effects of its war effort while keeping its own forces relatively insulated. Yet this approach comes at a high humanitarian and political cost, displacing civilians, straining regional relations, and provoking retaliatory actions that could escalate beyond control. The Soufan Center concludes that understanding the interactions among Iran and its Axis of Resistance partners is essential for predicting future conflict trends and for crafting diplomatic or military responses that mitigate risk while addressing the underlying drivers of proxy warfare.
