TY - JOUR
T1 - Iranian proxies in the Syrian conflict
T2 - Tehran’s ‘forward-defence’ in action
AU - Akbarzadeh, Shahram
AU - Gourlay, William
AU - Ehteshami, Anoushiravan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This article examines Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy, in particular its deployment of proxy forces in the Syrian conflict. Iran’s expanded presence in regional conflicts is regarded by its adversaries as indication of hegemonic intent, while Tehran posits its regional posture as a defensive response to security threats. We argue that Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy offers practical benefits, shaping strategic realities, and performative benefits, allowing Tehran to propagate a discourse of military fortitude. On balance, however, the strategy has fed suspicions of Iran’s intentions and increased hostility towards the Iranian leadership, thus is likely to be counterproductive.
AB - This article examines Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy, in particular its deployment of proxy forces in the Syrian conflict. Iran’s expanded presence in regional conflicts is regarded by its adversaries as indication of hegemonic intent, while Tehran posits its regional posture as a defensive response to security threats. We argue that Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy offers practical benefits, shaping strategic realities, and performative benefits, allowing Tehran to propagate a discourse of military fortitude. On balance, however, the strategy has fed suspicions of Iran’s intentions and increased hostility towards the Iranian leadership, thus is likely to be counterproductive.
KW - forward-defence
KW - Iran
KW - proxy forces
KW - security dilemmas
KW - Syria
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122298051&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/01402390.2021.2023014
DO - 10.1080/01402390.2021.2023014
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85122298051
SN - 0140-2390
VL - 46
SP - 683
EP - 706
JO - Journal of Strategic Studies
JF - Journal of Strategic Studies
IS - 3
ER -