Non-State Armed Actors in the Middle East: Dynamics of Proxy Wars and Strategic Targeting

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of targeting non-state armed actors (NSAAs) in the Middle East on the complex and dynamic nature of the region. NSAAs often emerge in areas where states have weakened or collapsed, filling power vacuums and establishing their own authority. These actors, ranging from terrorist organizations to militia groups, are motivated by religious, ethnic or ideological motivations. Religious leaders play an important role as ideological and moral supporters of these armed actors. In particular, sectarian conflicts between Shia and Sunni groups are exacerbated by the influence of religious leaders. Groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, acting under the guidance of religious leaders, are influential both locally and regionally. The targeting of armed non-state actors in the Middle East is often shaped by the interventions of international and regional powers. Sometimes these interventions take the form of direct military operations, while other times they take the form of economic and political sanctions. By assessing the impact of international and regional interventions on NSAAs, the study analyzes how these dynamics contribute to regional instability.