Inside 'Axis of Resistance' terror group that claimed it killed three US troops
An expert has warned the Islamic Resistance group is "operating simultaneously on various fronts" against the US after it claimed a devastating drone attack that killed three troops and injured dozens more.
The "Axis of Resistance" is a hardline Shi'ite Muslim armed group with close ties to Iran and has claimed more than 150 attacks on bases housing US forces in Syria and Iraq since October.
Most recently, they claimed an attack near the Syrian-Jordanian border, and since mid-October, a group of Iran-backed militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have launched regular attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria, which the group said are in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israel in the war in Gaza.
Those estimated 2,500 US troops and the bases they serve on have drawn more than 150 missile and drone attacks fired by the militias. Scores of US personnel have been wounded, including some with traumatic brain injuries, during the attacks.
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Who is the Islamic Resistance group?
Dr Andreas Krieg, Associate Professor of Security Studies at King’s College London, exclusively told The Mirror it is unclear who was specifically behind the attack on the US as it is a "network of different actors."
He said: "We still do not have a complete picture of who committed the act and the extent to which Iran was behind this. The 'Islamic Resistance in Iraq' is a network of different actors that is horizontally organise and receives support, training, and equipment from Iran.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty Images)"That being said, most of these groups retain a large degree of autonomy and agency to conduct operations and choose targets. Considering that this attack was conducted with a sophisticated Iranian drone, we can conclude that Iran must have at least green-lighted the attack – even if the attack was conducted by Iraqis.
"Some of the groups under the umbrella of the 'Islamic Resistance of Iraq' are staffed with Iranian IRGC operatives as well. Hence, it is possible that IRGC operatives were directly involved in the operation."
Why do they exist?
The "Axis of Resistance" is "fuelled by a deep-seated anti-Americanism" and "opposition to Israel's right to exist", according to Dr Krieg.
He revealed: "This network integrates into the wider regional Iran-aligned network of the 'Axis of Resistance'. This network broadly works as an extension of the Islamic Republic’s strategy to externalize the Islamic Revolution.
Assulats on the US have increased since October (AFP/Getty Images)"As such the ideology is fuelled by a deep-seated anti-Americanism and staunch opposition to Israel’s right to exist. The groups are Iran’s first line of defence against its enemies. Iran has been trying to keep enemies as far away from its territory as possible and fight them outside.
"Now the ‘Axis of Resistance’ is Iran’s first line of offense against Israel amid Israel’s war on Gaza. The current escalation very much is linked to the war in Gaza and is about pressuring the US to pressure Israel to bring the war to an end."
President Joe Biden has held off on retaliation (AFP via Getty Images)Why can they operate on multiple fronts?
The "extremely resilient" group has the ability to attack the US on multiple fronts and has stepped up its assault on US forces since October.
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"The networked structure and organisation of the 'Axis of Resistance' makes it extremely resilient," Dr Krieg admitted.
"The fact that they have autonomy in operations means they can operate simultaneously on various fronts in a non-linear approach against the US, which is a hierarchically organised military that will be overwhelmed trying to fight a de-centralised but synchronised network."
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