In light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, particularly following the Iran-Israel ‘12-Day War’ and subsequent U.S. strikes on Iran, this article examines how Iraq’s Shi‘a armed factions interpret and enact the concept of “unity of arenas” and their professed loyalty to the transnational resistance alliance. It argues that these factions continuously recalibrate their behaviour in response to shifting constraints, navigating a complex interplay of ideological commitments, domestic political entrenchment, and transnational connections. The analysis underscores that Iraqi armed factions are not a monolithic entity but a spectrum of entities whose behaviours reflect how they read an evolving combination of internal dynamics and external pressures. Understanding their motivations and actions is essential for analysts and policymakers seeking to assess the strategies of Iraq’s Islamic Resistance and the evolving rules of sect-coded and cross-sectarian solidarity that sustain it.
This article was originally published by the PRISME Initiative.