IRAQ PERSPECTIVE

Iraqi media coverage reveals a perspective deeply marked by Iraq's precarious geostrategic position, caught between the United States and Iran. The dominant emphasis is on the collapse of the Iranian "Axis of Resistance," presented not as a Western victory but as a major geopolitical upheaval whose consequences Iraq is suffering. The factual tone barely masks a palpable anxiety: Iraq appears as a playground for foreign powers rather than a sovereign actor. This coverage particularly emphasizes the weakening of pro-Iranian Shiite militias integrated into the Iraqi state, revealing the country's internal tensions.

The silences are revealing: no direct condemnation of American-Israeli strikes, but no explicit support either. The official Iraqi position is remarkably absent from the narrative, suggesting either diplomatic paralysis or an avoidance strategy. Iraqi media carefully avoid taking sides, reflecting the fragile political architecture of the country where pro-American and pro-Iranian factions coexist. The humanitarian impact of the conflict is also minimized in favor of a cold geopolitical analysis.

The narrative framing positions Iraq as a collateral victim of a confrontation that exceeds it. Iraqi Shiite groups are described as "seeking to survive" rather than as belligerent actors, euphemizing their role in the escalation. This approach reflects Iraqi media's desire to preserve the image of a country attempting to maintain its sovereignty in the face of foreign interference. Trump and Netanyahu appear as the true decision-makers, relegating Iraq to the status of a constrained observer.

Structural biases reveal a media system conditioned by fifteen years of American occupation and Iran's growing influence post-2003. Coverage avoids any assumed Iraqi nationalism, preferring a "realistic" approach that implicitly accepts foreign tutelage. This posture reflects the internalization of Iraqi geopolitical dependence and the country's identity fragmentation between Arabism, political Shiism, and security pragmatism. The absence of an autonomous regional perspective underscores the erosion of independent Iraqi diplomacy.