The Morning: Iran’s Axis of Resistance

Plus, aid workers, presidential health and chair design.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 4, 2024 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We're covering the Iran-led Axis of Resistance — as well as aid workers, presidential health and chair design. In Sana, Yemen. Khaled Abdullah/Reuters Tehran's proxies Its members refer to it as the Axis of Resistance. It is the network of Iran-backed groups across the Middle East dedicated to reducing U.S. influence in the region and ultimately eliminating the state of Israel. The network's name is a play on former President George W. Bush's 2002 claim that Iran, Iraq and North Korea made up an Axis of Evil. The Axis of Resistance includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other groups, and both its strategy and its tactics have long been radical. The official slogan of the Houthis — the Yemen-based group that has attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea — includes "death to America, death to Israel, a curse upon the Jews," for example. Nonetheless, the conflict between the Axis and its enemies had remained limited for years. Even though Iran funds and supports the Axis, other countries have often treated its member groups as distinct from Iran. Attacks by Hamas or Hezbollah usually did not lead to reprisals against Iran. The events of the past few months threaten to change this dynamic. In today's newsletter, I'll explain why. A murky distinction The main turning point, of course, was Oct. 7. Hamas conducted the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel's history and said it would repeat the attacks until Israel was destroyed. Israel has responded by vowing to destroy Hamas, and its war in Gaza has flattened neighborhoods and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. In solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah has fired missiles into Israel, while the Houthis have disrupted global commerce. Initially, Iran remained somewhat removed from the fighting. Although its leaders praised the Oct. 7 attack as a step toward the end of Israel, they privately said they did not help plan the attack — and U.S. officials agree they did not. All three countries took steps to avoid a wider war. All have good reasons. Iran's economy is weak, and its fundamentalist government worries about pro-democracy activism. A war could destabilize the country. Israel eventually hopes to sign a diplomatic agreement with Saudi Arabia, as it already has with Bahrain, Morocco and the U.A.E., which would reduce the long-term risks to Israel's existence. A bloody war could make it harder for the Saudis to do so (much as the war in Gaza has put the Saudi talks on hold). And President Biden very much wants to avoid a wider war. Despite these factors, a basic reality may push Iran and Israel toward confrontation: The distinction between Iran and the Axis of Resistance has always been murky. Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis could not exist as they do without the money and weapons they receive from Iran. Hezbollah is especially close with Iranian leaders. Iran, in short, makes possible an alliance that routinely attacks another country and calls for its demise. In Tehran. Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times This situation helps explain Israel's bombing of an Iranian Embassy building in Syria on Monday, which killed several Iranian officials who helped oversee the relationship with the Axis of Resistance. The Oct. 7 attack left Israel feeling newly vulnerable, and it has become more aggressive in attacking Iranian officials (This Times article catalogs other recent Israeli attacks.) Monday's was the starkest: Countries rarely attack embassies, even those of their enemies. Iran has promised to retaliate, and U.S. officials are concerned that Americans may be targeted as well as Israelis, as my colleague Eric Schmitt notes. Experts are also worried that an Axis group could go further than its Iranian sponsors prefer. The Suleimani case I want to emphasize that escalation isn't the only possible outcome. Iran and Israel both still have the same incentives to avoid a full-scale war, and officials from both countries are carefully calibrating their actions, according to Julian Barnes, a Times reporter who covers intelligence. Recent history offers an example of an audacious attack that didn't lead to spiraling violence. In 2020, a U.S. drone killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, one of Iran's most powerful officials, in Baghdad. The Trump administration said the assassination was punishment for Suleimani's work with Axis of Resistance groups that had killed American troops in Iraq. Afterward, many experts warned of a cycle of escalation. Instead, Iran retaliated in a limited way, and the U.S. did not respond. Today, though, the tensions between Iran and Israel are sharper than they have been in a long time. More on the Middle East Outside the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria. Louai Beshara/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Can Israel bomb an embassy? In The Times's Interpreter newsletter, Amanda Taub examines the legality. Israel's military can hit with precision. But its strike on an aid convoy showed the difficulties of picking targets in war, experts say. One of the aid workers' brothers kept calling him after the strike. Finally, a stranger answered. The White House invited Muslim community leaders to a dinner celebrating Ramadan. Many declined because of Biden's position on Israel. Biden privately said that Jill Biden, the first lady, had urged him to stop the war. The White House denied any difference between their positions. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS International In Hualien, Taiwan. Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times More than 200 aftershocks followed Taiwan's strongest earthquake in 25 years. At least nine people died and more than 1,000 others were injured. Many are trapped in rubble. In South Korea, a doctors' strike is testing the public's patience. 2024 Election Biden and Donald Trump get to decide what they share about their health. Voters are asking questions. Trump claimed he'd spoken with the family of a Michigan woman allegedly killed by an undocumented man. Her sister said Trump never contacted the family. A political strategist forecast the Democrats' surprising strength in 2022. His next prediction? A Biden victory. Trump Trials The judge overseeing Trump's Manhattan criminal trial denied Trump's request to postpone the start date. Federal prosecutors, frustrated by the pace of Trump's classified documents case, pressed the judge overseeing it to move faster. The billionaire whose company gave Trump a $175 million bond got rich by offering high-interest car loans to people with bad credit. Business In New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Investors have so far lost tens of millions of dollars betting against Trump's social media company. Disney shareholders, endorsing chief executive Bob Iger's leadership, rejected an activist investor's bid to win two board seats. Healthcare The first patient to receive a transplanted kidney from a genetically modified pig is doing so well that he left the hospital for home. Once rivals, Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders are together pushing for lower prescription prices, CNN reports. A drug similar to Ozempic and Wegovy modestly slowed Parkinson's disease in a study. Other Big Stories In Oregon. U.S. Fish and Wildlife About 100,000 live salmon spilled off a truck in Oregon, but most survived by flopping into a nearby creek. They are heading toward the ocean. The police arrested a member of the Texas Army National Guard and charged him with migrant smuggling. Wildfires are destroying forests faster than trees can grow back. Governments and companies are trying to plant more. Opinions Have you been paying attention to politics? Take this quiz from Gail Collins. A new law in Scotland that criminalizes some public speech is a threat to free expression, Ross Douthat writes. With a new country album, Beyoncé is clear: She wants to be legendary, Tressie McMillan Cottom writes. Here are columns by Pamela Paul on Maryland's devotion to community service and Charles Blow on the "Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show." A subscription to match the variety of your interests. News. Games. Recipes. Product reviews. Sports reporting. A New York Times All Access subscription covers all of it and more. Subscribe today. MORNING READS Mardonia Galeana striking a pose in San Jose, Calif. Carolyn Fong for The New York Times Carefluencers: Some young people are supporting their older relatives — and making them TikTok stars. Soccer: Muslim players once faced pressure to avoid fasting during Ramadan. Many teams now provide support for fasting. Brand logo: Some runners are not happy with the Boston Marathon's new medal design. Social Q's: "How can our friends choose a Realtor other than my husband?" Big purchase: Should you buy a second home? Read these tips to decide. Lives Lived: Christopher Durang was a playwright who mixed high art with lowbrow jokes. He died at 75. SPORTS Angel Reese Hans Pennink/Associated Press College basketball: The L.S.U. star Angel Reese declared for the W.N.B.A. draft two days after Iowa eliminated her team in the Elite Eight. N.F.L.: The Houston Texans acquired the star wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills, a big swing for a young Houston team now expected to compete for a Super Bowl. Sports gambling: Louisiana is banning prop bets on college athletes. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Clement Pascal for The New York Times The seat of modernism: An exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, "Crafting Modernity," explores modernism and domestic design in Latin America. It focuses on 1940 through 1980, a time of industrial expansion. "I can't recall the last time I coveted so many beautiful chairs," Michael Kimmelman writes about the show. "The photographs give you some idea." More on culture Klaus Mäkelä Vincent Tullo for The New York Times The Chicago Symphony orchestra announced a 28-year-old Finnish conductor as its next music director. A 32-year-old from South Korea has become a rising star as a violin maker in Italy. The Cut has put together an encyclopedia of celebrities who have launched beauty brands. Beyoncé has been sending flowers to artists whose work she admires. See her signature bouquets. Lizzo clarified that she was not leaving the music industry, days after a social media post saying, "I QUIT." Late night hosts joked about Trump's call for a "Christian Visibility Day." THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Romulo Yanes for The New York Times Make a midnight pasta with roasted garlic, anchovies, capers and red pepper. Visit a hotel with a good pool. Photograph the solar eclipse. Choose the best tampon. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was puppylike. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018