The events of 7 October, spurred by Hamas’ ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ operation and Israel’s subsequent fierce military retaliation on Gaza, reverberated throughout Shi‘a Islamist communities with ties to the Iran-led Axis of Resistance. This article aims to delve into the responses of various Iraqi Shi‘a Islamist factions to the unfolding conflict, shedding light on their stances towards Israel and its Western allies, shaped by intricate domestic and transnational considerations aimed at bolstering their legitimacy and influence. To grasp the nuanced array of reactions, I provide a brief overview of the main Shi‘a Islamist actors involved in resistance politics in Iraq, examining their embeddedness within the state apparatus and their relationships with both regional and global actors. Subsequently, this discussion will explore how their strategy reflects not only their ideological underpinnings but also their long-standing interests predating the events of 7 October.
Read the full article in the journal Mediterranean Politics.