in the 1960s, israel And iranTwo nations that are currently hostile to each other once cooperated against a common enemy. At that time, Iraq posed a threat to both countries for different reasons. Israel was engaged in a broader conflict with hostile Arab regimes, while Iran, under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, viewed Iraq as a significant threat to its regional ambitions and security.
This shared belief led to secret cooperation between the two countries with the help of the United States. MossadIsrael’s intelligence agency, and SAVAKIran’s secret police worked together to support Kurdish rebels in Iraq. These Kurdish forces played a key role in weakening the Iraqi government, which was seen as the central pillar of Arab nationalism in the region.
This cooperation later evolved into an intelligence-sharing alliance known as Trident, which also included Türkiye. Intelligence cooperation lasted for years, strengthening military and strategic ties between Israel and Iran. For Iran, relations with Israel were more than just a temporary partnership – it was a potential path to better relations with the West, especially the United States. By the mid-1960s, Israel also established a permanent delegation in Tehran.
However, this relationship faced challenges, especially after the Six-Day War of 1967 when the Shah had to balance growing anti-Israel sentiment in the Arab world with Iran’s strategic interests. Despite the Shah maintaining a public distance from Israel, covert operations and military cooperation continued.
The situation changed significantly with the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. Ayatollah Khomeini came to power and the country turned into a islamic republicOfficially opposing Israel. Nonetheless, Iran and Israel continued to work together secretly, especially during the Iran–Iraq War. Both countries saw the benefit of weakening Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, which posed a major threat to their security. Despite an official US ban on such military aid, Israel provided arms to Iran, a move designed to weaken Iraq.
The most notable example of their secret ties during this period was the Iran–Contra affair in the mid-1980s. Israel acted as a mediator and facilitated the sale of American arms to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages. Hezbollah in Lebanon. The scandal revealed the extent to which Iran, Israel, and the United States were willing to cooperate despite public opposition.
There were also other covert operations, including Operation Flower, a secret missile development project, and Israel’s supply of military parts, such as spare tires for Iran’s F-4 fighter jets. However, by the 1990s the circumstances that once united these two countries had changed. The threat from Iraq diminished and Iran adopted an anti-Israel stance that continues to this day. The election of fundamentalist leaders in Iran and their support for groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas further deepened the animosity between the two countries.
Today, Israel and Iran are at opposite ends of the geopolitical spectrum, tensions are high and the threat of outright conflict looms.
What is axis of resistance,
The Axis of Resistance refers to a political-military alliance of anti-Western and anti-Israel forces in the Middle East, led primarily by Iran. The coalition includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Syrian government under President Bashar al-Assad, and various Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Yemen’s Houthi rebels are also part of this alliance. The term axis of resistance was first coined by these groups to denote their opposition to the influence of Western powers, particularly the United States, as well as Israel’s role in the region.
The roots of the axis of resistance lie in the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, when Ayatollah Khomeini established an Islamic republic with a strong anti-Western and anti-Israel ideology. Iran’s new leadership viewed the West, especially the US, as imperial powers interfering in the Middle East, while Israel was seen as a Western outpost that threatened the Islamic world. As Iran sought to increase its influence in the region, it formed alliances with like-minded groups and governments.
key players
1. Iran: As the leading power behind the Axis, Iran provides financial, military, and logistics support to its allies. It has developed ties with both state and non-state actors that share its opposition to Israel and the US. Iran’s elite Quds Force, part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), plays a key role in coordinating this network.
2. Hezbollah: Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia militant group and political party that emerged in the 1980s, heavily supported by Iran. It has since grown into an important regional player not only within Lebanon but also in Syria and Iraq. Hezbollah’s military wing is considered one of the most powerful non-state armies in the region, and receives training, weapons, and funding from Iran. It has gained popularity among many Lebanese for its resistance to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, especially after the 2006 war with Israel.
3. Syria: A key member of the axis of resistance to the Assad regime in Syria. Syria and Iran have been strategic partners since the 1980s. during Syrian civil warIran, Hezbollah, and Russia provided significant aid to Bashar al-Assad’s government, helping it gain control over much of the country. For Assad, this alliance was essential to his survival, while for Iran, Syria is a vital geographical link connecting Iran to Lebanon and Hezbollah, providing a way to challenge Israel’s influence.
4. Palestinian Group: Hamas and Islamic Jihad are Gaza-based Palestinian groups that receive support from Iran. Although Hamas, a Sunni Islamist group, does not share Iran’s Shia ideology, it is associated with Iran because of their general opposition to Israel. These groups frequently engage in conflict with Israel, with rocket attacks and other forms of resistance being their primary tactics. Iran’s support has helped arm these groups, allowing them to maintain their confrontational stance against Israel.
5. Houthis in Yemen: The Houthi movement, a Shia-aligned rebel group in Yemen, is another component of the axis of resistance. While their conflict is primarily internal, against the Saudi-backed government of Yemen, their opposition to Saudi Arabia and its US-backed coalition aligns them with Iran’s regional objectives. Iran has been accused of providing arms and support to the Houthis, although Iran denies direct involvement.
