Iran-Backed Militias: A Look at their Internal Conflicts

Profiles of 15 Iranian- backed Militias in the Middle East By Joe Truzman & Bill Roggio | October 31, 2023 |. There are approximately 40 militant groups backed by Iran in the region, Baraa Shiban, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a British defense and security think-tank, told. The United States has struggled to deal with Iran ’ s proxies short of military confrontation. Since 1984, and across six presidencies, the United States has sanctioned Iran’s extensive network of militia proxies in the Middle East to contain Tehran’s regional influence. A string of Iranian - funded armed groups across the region are launching attacks as the conflict in Gaza continues, including a drone strike that killed three US troops. Militant groups backed by Iran , which supports Hamas and for years has engaged in a shadow war with Israel, have joined in. These groups — part of Iran ’s so-called axis of resistance — have. Farzin Nadimi In general, Iran ’s military strategy depends on its missile force and ability to defend its airspace. In the current conflict , its barrages against Israel have subsided significantly, suggesting that Tehran is not acting as recklessly as it could. Hardline figures in Iran have called for missile strikes on US naval forces in Bahrain and a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As the Pentagon ramps up regional defence, US intelligence has warned that Iran may activate proxy militias across Iraq and Syria to carry out coordinated retaliation. The Islamic Republic of Iran , long reliant on a network of proxy groups to exert influence across the Middle East, faces significant challenges as its strategy falters. Understanding the roots of the relationships between Iran and its network of militias , and the nature of those relationships today, can highlight the limitations of an approach that relies on economic sanctions alone.