Iran: strengthening positions in Lebanon and a temporary rapprochement with HAMAS

Occupation: Junior Research Fellow
Affiliation: Center for Civilizational and Regional Studies, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 2

Pages

23-29

Abstract

The article deals with the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to promote a rather specific Shiite version of Islamism, which implies the establishment of political and religious control among the Shiite communities loyal to Tehran in the Arab region. Iran has achieved significant success in this direction in Lebanon through the Shiite group Hezbollah, which is the conductor of Iranian policy in this state. Hezbollah has managed to significantly strengthen its position both within the state and in the fight against the state of Israel, receiving financial, diplomatic and military assistance from Tehran. Iran also provided military and financial assistance to Hamas, gaining popularity among the Palestinian people of the Gaza Strip. However, the cooperation between Tehran and Hamas was not permanent. Special attention should be paid to the active participation of Hezbollah in the Iranian military forces on the side of the government of B. Assad. It should be pointed out that the participation of Hezbollah troops in the Syrian crisis was an important event not only for Iran but also for Syria itself. The Syrian Arab Republic is an important mediator between Iran and Hezbollah. That is why, the preservation of the Assad regime is the main condition for supporting the political axis of Iran-SyriaHezbollah. Thanks to the well-coordinated cooperation with government forces, Hezbollah helped to oust radical Islamist groups from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as to preserve the political axis. Hezbollah’s success in the Syrian theater of war, as well as its victory in the 2018 parliamentary elections strengthened Iran’s influence in Lebanon.

Keywords

Iran, Islamism, Islamist project, Shiism, Hezbollah, Hamas, Lebanon, Syria

Publication date

25.03.2019

Number of characters

23396

Cite

GOST	Khairullin T. Iran: strengthening positions in Lebanon and a temporary rapprochement with HAMAS // Asia and Africa Today – 2019. – Issue 2 C. 23-29 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750003731-6-1 (circulation date: 18.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750003731-6
MLA	Khairullin, Timur R "Iran: strengthening positions in Lebanon and a temporary rapprochement with HAMAS." Asia and Africa Today 2 (2019):23-29. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750003731-6
APA	Khairullin T. (2019). Iran: strengthening positions in Lebanon and a temporary rapprochement with HAMAS. Asia and Africa Today (2), pp.23-29 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750003731-6

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