The global war on terror, an empowered Iran, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The U.S.-led Global War on Terror inadvertently strengthened Iran, transforming it into a dominant regional power.
• U.S. invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) removed Iran's hostile neighbors, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein's regime.
• The subsequent chaos and sectarian conflicts fueled the rise of groups like ISIS, against which Iran became a key counter-terrorism actor.
• Iran established and leveraged the Axis of Resistance, a network linking Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, to project influence.
• U.S. withdrawals and "Forever Wars" created power vacuums that Iran strategically filled, expanding its regional footprint.

Detailed Insights:

• Prior to 2001, Iran faced strategic containment from the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.
• The fall of the Sunni regime in Iraq led to a Shia-led government with strong ties to Tehran, turning a former adversary into a strategic partner.
• The invasions created a chaotic environment that intensified sectarian conflicts, providing fertile ground for groups like al-Qaeda in Iraq, which evolved into ISIS.
• Iran bolstered Shia militias in Iraq, while Saudi Arabia supported Sunni extremists, entrenching Iran as a regional power broker.
• Despite a brief opportunity for dialogue against ISIS, U.S. President George W. Bush labeled Iran part of the "Axis of Evil" in 2002, hindering cooperation.
• The Axis of Resistance was designed as a "ring of fire" around Israel, providing forward defense for Iran and creating buffer zones.
• Key members of the Axis of Resistance include Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shia militias in Iraq.
• This network contributed to the emergence of the "Shia Crescent", an arc of Iranian influence extending through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
• Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) focused on sub-conventional warfare and controlling proxies, gaining significant military capabilities.
• Iran deployed its elite Quds Force to coordinate Baghdad’s defense against ISIS and defended the Assad regime in Syria, securing supply routes to Hezbollah.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Global War on Terror: A U.S.-led international military campaign launched after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
• Axis of Evil: A term coined by U.S. President George W. Bush in 2002 to describe countries accused of sponsoring terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction.
• Axis of Resistance: An informal political and military alliance led by Iran, comprising states and non-state actors in West Asia, opposing U.S. and Israeli influence.
• Shia Crescent: A geopolitical term referring to a region of the Middle East where the majority population is Shia Muslim or where Shia political influence is strong.