Name three terrorist or militant groups supported by Iran.

• A. Hamas, Hezbollah, and ISIS
• B. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis
• C. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda
• D. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Taliban

Answer: (B)

Iran's support for militant groups is most clearly seen with Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement governing Gaza, has long received funding, weapons, and training from Iran, helping it sustain its operations against Israel. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia political-military group, has been Iran’s flagship proxy for decades, receiving crucial backing from the IRGC that has helped it build a substantial armed force and influence across Lebanon and into Syria. The Houthis in Yemen have also benefited from Iranian support, including weapons and training, which has extended Iran’s influence in the Arabian Peninsula.

In contrast, groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda are states Iran views as rivals or enemies, and Iran has actively fought them. The Taliban has had a complex relationship with Iran, including periods of indirect contact, but it is not widely recognized as a beneficiary of sustained Iranian support in the way Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are.