Axis Week in Breif
Week of January 6-12, 2026
Week in Brief
The axis defended Iran this week the way it defended Gaza.
Every outlet, Houthi, Hezbollah, Iranian state, Russian, Chinese, coordinated around a single message: the protests are a US-Israeli “terrorist war,” continuation of the June military campaign by other means. Press TV calls it “the 13th day of aggression.” Terminology standardized within 48 hours: “riots” not protests, legitimate “shopkeepers” distinguished from foreign-backed “terrorists.”
Venezuela is doing more work in axis discourse than at any other time since October 7th. Al-Manar asked, “Who’s Next?” Xinhua declared the “rules-based international order” a “plunder-based order.” The Houthis called America “the head of evil and the mother of terrorism.” The template is set: what Washington did to Caracas, it intends for Tehran.
Internally, the Houthis held their annual Hussein al-Houthi commemoration, the primary cohesion exercise that links current operations to the foundational narrative. Mobilization courses continued. Tribal gatherings emphasized readiness against “tools” now explicitly framed as serving Israeli interests.
The Saudi-UAE split went public. Saudi-aligned media published detailed accusations that UAE officers orchestrated the 2017 assassination of Aden governor Jaafar Mohammed Saad. Al-Zubaidi was expelled from the Presidential Leadership Council and charged with treason. The Houthis amplified as vindication.
One divergence worth noting: Chinese coverage of the Iran protests was more neutral than its condemnation of Venezuela. Beijing is calibrating, full attack on American action in Latin America, and qualified support for the Iranian government narrative. Chinese scholars are publicly arguing Iran is NOT Venezuela.
Houthi Media
Internal Messaging: Domestic/Local Signals
Mass mobilization through the Martyr Leader commemoration saturated all institutional channels. Armed tribal gatherings, graduation ceremonies for “Al-Aqsa Flood” military courses, and speeches at hospitals, schools, and government offices delivered uniform messaging: the Quranic project that Hussein al-Houthi founded now manifests in Yemen’s confrontation with America and Israel.
Mobilization courses continued across multiple governorates, with the tenth phase of “Al-Aqsa Flood” training launching in Hajjah. Graduates renewed their “mandate to the leader” to implement the decisions of the revolutionary leadership.
Tribal gatherings emphasized readiness for a potential new military confrontation, with explicit framing that enemies are preparing aggression through their “tools”—the mercenary forces in southern governorates.1
External Messaging: International Signals
Iran Defense Campaign
Coverage of Iran dominated external messaging, uniformly adopting Tehran’s framing. Protests are “riots” orchestrated from Washington and Tel Aviv. Casualties are “martyrs of the resistance battle.” Arrests are of “terrorist cells” and “Israeli spies.” The Iranian people demonstrate “awareness and cohesion” that “thwarted the enemy’s bets.”
Trump’s threats against Iran were presented alongside the Minneapolis killing as evidence of American hypocrisy—the administration that claims to support Iranian protesters executes its own citizens.
The framing positions this as an extension of the same war: America and Israel attack Gaza, attack Yemen, and attack Iran through different means toward the same end.2 Coverage emphasized winter conditions compounding the blockade, deaths from cold, flooding in displacement camps, and respiratory disease outbreaks. The framing positions international institutions as complicit through inaction.3
West Bank and Al-Aqsa
Continued documentation of Israeli military operations, settler violence, and Al-Aqsa incursions.4
Israeli Violations in Lebanon
Documentation of ceasefire violations continued.5
Venezuela / US Hegemony
The Maduro detention continued as a reference point for American lawlessness.6
American Hypocrisy Frame
The Minneapolis ICE killing was explicitly contrasted with US rhetoric on Iran.7
Greenland / Trump Expansionism
Trump’s statements on Greenland were covered as further evidence of American imperial character.
Saudi-UAE Conflict / Southern Yemen
Coverage of the coalition fracture intensified, with detailed accusations now public.8
Somaliland / Israeli Base Warning
The Israel-Somaliland agreement continued as a threat narrative.9
De Facto Governance
Administrative activity emphasized development planning, infrastructure maintenance, and institutional coordination—projecting normalcy and state capacity despite conflict conditions.