After the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, the ‘Axis of Resistance’ centered around Iran is rapidly being shaken. According to the New York Times on the 14th local time, Naim Qassem, the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, revealed that Iran’s supply route through Syria has been cut off.
Qassem added that “the situation may change in the future” and that they are looking for ways to restore the supply route. Until now, Hezbollah has procured various supplies, including weapons from Iran, through Syria, which shares a border with Lebanon. However, the fall of the Assad regime, which was supported by Iran, at the hands of the Syrian rebels has rendered these supply lines ineffective.
Analysts suggest that the collapse of the supply route within Syria will be a significant blow to Hezbollah. As the most powerful proxy within the Iran-led ‘Axis of Resistance,’ Hezbollah has suffered losses, including the decimation of its leadership and devastation of military assets, until the ceasefire with Israel was reached last month. While some in Hezbollah argue that ‘the ceasefire itself is a victory,’ there are concerns that the organization is now at a level where its survival is at stake.
Prioritizing the reconstruction of supply routes, Hezbollah has expressed a willingness to open dialogue with the Syrian rebels, with whom they have been hostile until now. From Iran’s perspective, the collapse of the Syrian supply route poses a substantial strategic setback. Through the Syrian supply line, Iran has supported not only Hezbollah but also the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq.
The blockade of the Syrian supply route, which served as a hub for supplying the ‘Axis of Resistance,’ could lead to a weakening of Iran’s influence as the leading Shia power.
[Photo Source: Reuters=Yonhap News]
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