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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Beyond a military response: How does the Axis overcome assassinations?</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Ali Halawi</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">August 20, 2024<br></div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>Despite
facing relentless Israeli-US assassinations of their leaders, factions
within the Axis of Resistance have formed some of the region's most
potent liberation movements. How did they accomplish this?</p><img src="cid:ii_m034j8s41" alt="68a9ccdf-405d-4005-9d9f-b677a4c13313.png" width="467" height="397"><br><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
>From left to right: martyr Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, martyr
Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, martyr Ismail Haniyeh, martyr Fouad Shokor, martyr
Imad Mughniyeh, and martyr Mustafa Badreddineseen an illustration
(Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail; Al Mayadeen English)
</li></div></ul>
<p>"Israel" committed two atrocious crimes in a span of a day,
assassinating the second-in-command of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon
- Hezbollah, <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/in-pictures/fouad-shokor--founding-member-of-lebanon-s-islamic-resistanc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sayyed Fouad Shokor</a>, and the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas, <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/ismail-haniyeh-s-journey-of-resistance--from-exile-to-martyr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ismail Haniyeh</a>. </p>
<p>The two attempts on the lives of the Resistance leaders took place
thousands of kilometers apart, the first of which was in the Southern
Suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, while the second occurred in northern
Tehran, Iran. Both marked unprecedented escalation in the ongoing Battle
of Al-Aqsa Flood, due to the caliber of the leaders and the locations
attacked. </p>
<ul id="gmail-content-slick-1"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
<a href="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/8/3/665f3370-8321-4e66-95bc-da2bcb9b8b28.jpg?width=1000" tabindex="0"><img src="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/8/3/665f3370-8321-4e66-95bc-da2bcb9b8b28.jpg?width=1000&preset=w700" alt="How the Axis of Resistance overcomes Israeli assassinations" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"></a>
Yemenis protest to condemn the killing of Hamas leader
Ismail Haniyeh, in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Arabic reads,
"Martyr Ismail Haniyeh". (AP)
</li></div></ul>
<p>By making such a dangerous leap, analysts believe that the Israeli
regime is making a strong, probably irreversible, bid for an all-out
war, shunning any possibility for a diplomatic deal that would see its
woes numbed for the meantime. To the general public, specifically
Israeli settlers, the Israeli regime markets these assassinations as
quintessential to securing the settler colonial project's continuity and
security, as well as a claim to victory against enemies. </p>
<p>On the other hand, the affected factions assert that the
assassinations will not deter them. Instead, they argue these events
will only strengthen their resolve and deepen their commitment to
resisting occupation.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hezbollah-unveils-underground-imad-4-missile-facility--foota" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hezbollah unveils underground Imad 4 missile facility: Footage</a></strong></p>
<h2>Do assassinations enhance Israeli security?</h2>
<p>Political assassinations might cause short-term turbulence within the
leadership framework of political factions and they may also affect
organizational stances and priorities. Through high-profile
assassinations, conducted by the Israeli military and intelligence
agencies such as the Mossad, the Israeli occupation was able to
influence the general direction of political movements, by eliminating
key revolutionary figures in the past. </p>
<p>Fatah, one of the most popular Palestinian political organizations
and among the first to champion resistance and Palestinian nationalism,
eventually saw its political core succumb to Israeli pressure.
Eliminating leaders such as Fatah's Khalil al-Wazir, known as Abu Jihad,
and Yasser Arafat, at different stages, produced some of the worst
results for the Palestinian national liberation struggle. </p>
<p>In the case of Fatah, the available cadre played an important role in
transforming ideals of armed resistance until the full liberation of
Palestine to defeatist and supposedly pragmatist policies that
benefitted a few to the detriment of nations. </p>
<p>However, organizations with radically different ideologies,
membership criteria, and military and organizational structures were
immune to the same Israeli policies. </p>
<p>Namely, Islamic-oriented political organizations, such as Hezbollah,
the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hamas, saw multiple rounds of
assassination campaigns, yet both their political and military influence
grew exponentially over the years. </p>
<p>When comparing the two phenomena, it is critical to observe the
deep-rooted ideas that Islamic and revolutionary organizations adopt.
Revolutionary Marxist organizations, such as the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) share similar experiences. Although the
two fronts lost stamina in the 2000s, they remained steadfast in their
ideological basis, refusing the Oslo Accords an ineffective US-led
two-state solution. They also remained relevant in the military sphere,
as their fighters continue to participate in <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-helicopters-evacuate-troops-from-gaza-after-deadly-o#:~:text=The%20Popular%20Front%20for%20the%20Liberation%20of%20Palestine%27s%20(PFLP)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">near-daily confrontations</a> with Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, although to a lesser extent than al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades. </p>
<p>The two parties remain crucial to the Palestinian political makeup,
however, their deterioration may be closely linked to the strong rise in
Islamic political organizations, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and
failed strategies. Conversely, Israeli assassinations had little effect
on their ideals.</p>
<p>For example, although "Israel" assassinated the PFLP renowned
Secretary-General martyr Abu Ali Moustapha and later detained his
successor Ahmad Saadat, the front continues to engage in <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/palestinian-factions-sign--beijing-declaration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-level meetings</a>
and talks with other Resistance factions and maintains its military
presence in both the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. </p>
<p>Among the three earliest Palestinian political movements, the impact
of the assassinations has varied significantly. In some instances, these
actions have boosted Israeli security, while in others, they have had
the opposite effect. Certain movements have even capitalized on these
incidents to expand and strengthen their operational capabilities.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/who-is-imad-mughniyeh--hezbollah-s-mastermind-legendary-stra" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Who is Imad Mughniyeh, Hezbollah's mastermind legendary strategist?</a></strong></p>
<h2>Exploiting assassinations</h2>
<p>In the current geopolitical atmosphere, Islamic Resistance factions
have been able to overcome high-profile assassinations. This is
especially true when examining the long-term development of these
movements. </p>
<p>Bennifetting of rooted ideological structures, and popular support
stemming from cultural and social support networks they initiated, these
movements grew stronger after every assassination attempt, successful
or not.</p>
<p>Generally, the founding leaders are viewed by their comrades and
subordinates as icons who initiated movements that snatched entire
peoples from an ailing slump and pushed them toward success. As such
assassinations only strengthened such beliefs, as the events add to the
legitimacy of the movements' stories. </p>
<p>In the case of Hezbollah, the assassination of their top leaders, such as Sheikh Ragheb Harb, Sayyed Abbas Mousawi, <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-officers-warn-of-increased-threat-of-radwan-force-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Imad Mughniyeh</a>,
and now Sayyed Fouad Shokor, only spurred the Resistance forward, as
their teachings have become cornerstones for incoming and existing
generations. </p>
<ul id="gmail-content-slick-2"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
<a href="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/8/3/f7bbd869-f91e-4ff5-a450-a661d6fbf3fd.jpg?width=1000" tabindex="0"><img src="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/8/3/f7bbd869-f91e-4ff5-a450-a661d6fbf3fd.jpg?width=1000&preset=w700" alt="How the Axis of Resistance overcomes Israeli assassinations" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"></a>
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah speaks via a video
link, during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the death of
Hezbollah leaders, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday,
Feb. 16, 2013. (AP)
</li></div></ul>
<p>Hamas also experienced a similar journey, as the Israeli occupation
worked to dismantle its entire military and political structure.
Instead, it was faced with a growing popular base and increasingly more
resolute leadership. The assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Doctor
Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, and now Ismail Haniyeh, did not and will not
produce any positive results for Israeli security, instead, the
aftermath of the latest assassination indicates growing bonds between
different factions and peoples of the Axis of Resistance. </p>
<p>The same goes for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and its
military wing al-Quds Brigades, which recently experienced a wide-scale
assassination campaign in 2022 and 2023 where the Israeli strike
eliminated a substantial number of leaders. Nevertheless, al-Quds
Brigades has proven to be one of the region's most active and skilled
military apparatuses. It continues to be the second strongest
organization in the Gaza Strip, the most militarily active in the
occupied West Bank, and maintains operations from South Lebanon and
Syria. </p>
<ul id="gmail-content-slick-3"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
<a href="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/8/3/50344a1d-6e01-4972-8523-e6b68134781e.png?width=1000" tabindex="0"><img src="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/8/3/50344a1d-6e01-4972-8523-e6b68134781e.png?width=1000&preset=w700" alt="How the Axis of Resistance overcomes Israeli assassinations" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"></a>
An illustration shows the names and pictures of Palestinian
Islamic Jihad leaders and fighters assassinated or martyred in battles
against Israeli occupation forces. (al-Quds Brigades/Military Media)
</li></div></ul>
<p>A commonality observed between all the aforementioned organizations
is that these assassinations have also left behind a legacy carried on
by other leaders, fighters, and supporters. The names of those
assassinated become ominous with the faction. The association between
these high-profile personalities and the factions goes beyond mere
aesthetics and as their journeys become inherent foundations for others
to follow. </p>
<p>The accumulation of such leaders, whose lives ended in the most
honorable manner, during a time when exit plans are easy to attain, only
adds to the legacy and history of the parties. Further enhancing
factions' political standing and legitimate struggle for an unassailable
cause. Decisions such as naming a newly organized force, or a weapon,
or commemorating the lives of the martyrs in yearly memorials all play
into raising awareness of the martyred leaders' careers and further
cementing their work into the public's collective consciousness. </p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/al-qassam-unveils-m-90-rocket-following-3-barrages-on--tel-a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Al-Qassam unveils M-90 rocket following 3 barrages on "Tel Aviv"</a></strong></p>
<h2>Organizational, operational excellence</h2>
<p>Integrating the journeys and legacies of the martyrs into the
parties' aesthetic is crucial to developing the parties' own legacy and
legitimacy among supporters and members. Nevertheless, serious work goes
into bypassing short-term turbulence and organizational impasse, caused
by high-profile assassinations. </p>
<p>In the early stages of these movements, military-related knowledge
was limited to basic training, the use and production of improvised
explosives, and the operation of a variety of cannons. Although limited,
when employed properly, these basic methods could produce impactful
results that pushed against Israeli aggression on Lebanon for decades. </p>
<p>Critically, the accumulation of military and security-related
knowledge, as well as the dissemination of the know-how across
self-acting or directed cells, kept the heritage alive, even if the
original idea-bearer was retired. </p>
<p>More recently, as the Resistance accumulated several substantial
experiences, armed groups, and cells were molded and morphed into
regular squads. These new formations meant that Resistance fighters had
clear organizational guidelines, rules, sanctions, documented knowledge,
and training exercises curtailed by an elite few who paved the way for
thousands to follow. </p>
<p>Across the plane, Resistance factions honored the careers of martyrs
with strategic responses to their assassination or martyrdom on the
battlefield. It is worth noting that the Resistance faces a much more
superior military force in "Israel" and the United States, meaning that
direct responses to the killing of martyrs are often seen as lacking by
the public.</p>
<p>However, in the backrooms, the Resistance responds to these attacks
by establishing vital projects and weaponry. Such actions only come to
their true fruition in later stages of confrontations, where these
projects cut further into Israeli security.</p>
<p>Here is a list of such examples, in which the martyrdom of key leaders led to grand plans.</p>
<ul><li>Hezbollah's Radwan Force: Named after Imad Mughniyeh's military
codename, the force is now one of the world's most developed and highly
skilled non-state military groups. </li><li>Al-Qassam Brigades' Ghoul sniper rifle: In memory of Adnan al-Ghoul,
al-Qassam developed their own sniper rifle, and with it squads of
highly-trained individuals that have reaped dozens of Israeli soldiers
in the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood. </li><li>Al-Quds Brigades' Ali Al-Aswad Force: Keeping the name of Ali Ramzi
al-Aswad in the public collective memory, al-Quds Brigades named their
forces in Syria after the martyr. The force is among a few factions
participating in operations in support of the Palestinian people from
South Lebanon and participated in a commando operation against an
Israeli base in the early days of the war. </li></ul>
<p>The recent appointment of <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/who-is-yahya-al-sinwar-the-artist-behind-operation-al-aqsa-f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahya Sinwar</a>
as the leader of Hamas' Political Bureau underscores the organizational
resilience and enduring legacy of the Islamic Resistance Movement,
which successfully countered Israeli plots. Sinwar, widely as the
architect behind Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, was unanimously chosen for the
highest organizational role, reflecting both his critical influence
within the movement and the strong support for his vision among Hamas'
top echelon at this stage of the Israeli war on Palestine. His
leadership is expected to usher Hamas into a new era characterized by
proactive and strategic political maneuvers, marking a significant
counter-response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>Crossnational cooperation crushes effects of Israeli-US assassinations</h2>
<p>The Axis of Resistance has seen historic cooperation across different factions. </p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, in phases of escalation, Iran's Islamic Revolution
Guard Corps (IRGC) records several martyrs, designated as military
advisors. Similarly, Hezbollah, after gaining years of military
experience, also saw several of its fighters martyred in countries such
as Iraq and Yemen during times of war. </p>
<p>Military advisors as well as joint coordination rooms have played
vital roles in overcoming the short-term effects of assassinations and
deaths among the Resistance's cadre. Advisors play a key role in
training new sets of Resistance fighters on advanced weapons systems,
including drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. They also
disseminate the extensive knowledge amassed from decades of
confrontations and warfare, ensuring it permeates every possible level
of the Axis.</p>
<p>The significance of knowledge-sharing within the Axis of Resistance
cannot be overstated. This exchange of expertise has enabled factions to
protect fighters using tunnels from Israeli-American targeting systems,
bolster their strength through the production and deployment of
rockets, and identify and exploit vulnerabilities in Israeli defenses.
It also plays a key role within the faction itself, as the martyrdom of
leaders, such as that in the Gaza Strip, does not affect the
operationality of lower-tier members, who have undergone the necessary
training and have a flurry of instructional manuals available to
complete relatively simple tasks.</p>
<p>It so happens that resisting Israeli occupation is popular in West
Asia, attracting thousands to take on one of modern history's most
unrelenting enemies. Armed with extensive knowledge and collective
determination, the Axis of Resistance has consistently withstood the
impacts of Israeli assassinations and will continue to do so, in the
case of the martyred leaders Shokor and Haniyeh.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-s-support-for-resistance-strategic--firm--irgc-s-qaani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran's support for Resistance strategic, firm: IRGC's Qaani</a></strong></p></div></div></div>
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