The “Abraham Alliance” is the name given to a new regional coalition that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu envisions in a speech he gave to the US Congress last month.
An extension of the Abraham Accords, this proposed coalition seeks to counter Iran and its aliies, especially its network of Islamic terrorist groups, who are collectively referred to as the “Axis of Resistance”. Iran uses these terrorist groups to wage proxy wars against its regional rivals and extend its influence on the global stage.
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What is the Abraham Alliance?
Beginning in September 2020, the Abraham Accords restored diplomatic ties between Israel and a number of Arab countries, including Sudan, Bahrain, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Building on these agreements, Netanyahu’s vision for the Abraham Alliance aims to bring together a coalition that might consist of Israel’s present and potential diplomatic allies. Netanyahu claims this coalition seeks to combat Iran and its terrorist groups.
With the political fallout over the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian armed group Hamas, in Tehran intensifying, the US has promised to increase its military presence in the Middle East by deploying a new fighter squadron, more ships equipped to defend against ballistic missile defense, and an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Israel is working closely with the US and the UK to coordinate in case Iran launches a retaliatory strike. British Defence Secretary John Healey and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin have had talks with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
If Israel and Iran go to war, it will pit multiple military forces against one another.
Axis of Resistance: Iran and its terrorist proxy groups
Through a network of proxy organizations known as the Axis of Resistance, Iran has methodically expanded its influence throughout the Middle East since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, several militias in Iraq, and extremist organizations in Syria and Gaza are all part of this network. Iran benefits strategically from these proxies because they enable it to confront enemies throughout the region and exercise influence.
Lebanon: Hezbollah
Iran backed Hezbollah’s establishment in the early 1980s, making it the country’s first major Middle East proxy. Hezbollah is mostly recruited from Lebanon’s Shiite Muslim community and is equipped and funded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Tehran’s Shiite Islamist ideology is shared by Hezbollah.
With at least 130,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal, Hezbollah, which was first established to oppose Israeli forces in Lebanon, has developed into a powerful political and military organization.
Gaza: Hamas and Islamic Jihad
Iran has fostered ties with extremist organizations like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Palestinian territories. These organizations, who get financial and military assistance from Iran, have been involved in protracted wars with Israel.
Syria: Bashar al-Assad Regime
Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, Iran has played a critical role in supporting the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. Tehran has bolstered Assad’s army with significant military support, including about 80,000 combatants.
Furthermore, Iran has organized and supplied a number of Shiite militias to aid the Syrian government, including the Afghan Hazara-led Fatemiyoun Division and the Pakistani-led Zaynabiyoun Brigade.
Yemen: Houthis
Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has become a major actor in the regional war. The Houthis, who first emerged in the 1990s and began to gain momentum in 2014, are supported both militarily and financially by the IRGC.
Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has become a major actor in the regional war. The Houthis, who first emerged in the 1990s and began to gain momentum in 2014, are supported both militarily and financially by the IRGC.
Iraq: Shia Militias
Iran established and supported a number of Shiite militias in order to increase its influence after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The Badr Organization, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Hezbollah are notable organizations. With strong ties to Tehran, these militias have frequently targeted US personnel.
