Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ Stands Firm Despite Six-Month War on Its Proxies

When the United States and Israel began a campaign six months ago to dismantle Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” the expectation was that the network of militias and allied regimes would collapse, leaving Tehran isolated. Although the campaign has inflicted losses on Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthi rebels, the groups have shown surprising resilience, leveraging local support, shared combat expertise and Iran’s hybrid warfare approach.

Iran’s parliament member Ali Khezrian even proclaimed the axis stronger than ever, a claim analysts temper but acknowledge reflects its adaptive capacity. The expiration of a 60-day U.S.-Iran cease-fire agreement has left diplomatic momentum stalled, while Iran seeks to manage Strait of Hormuz traffic with Oman. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has revived its combat capabilities in Lebanon, and the Houthis have renewed pressure on Saudi shipping routes, underscoring a multifront challenge that Washington and Jerusalem find costly to counter.