Guru Nanak Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Research (GNJMDR), Volume 14, Issue 1, January– June 2025
(Refereed, Peer Reviewed and Biannual Journal)
ISSN: 2277-1409
capabilities. Most of their leaders hailed from Fateh al-Sham, it was a group of factions that
the al-Houthi clan and were supported by tribal declared allegiance to al-Qaeda. Later, it
alliances and religious leaders. announced its independence and rebranded as
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, HTS in 2017. Unlike other non-state armed
the group has carried out several missile and actors, it is largely a self-funded group.
drone attacks against Israel. They launched In November 2024, HTS led a major coalition
missile attacks and hijacked commercial vessels of offensive operations named “Operation
in the Red Sea. The resurgence of Houthis and Deterrence of Aggression” against pro-
its attacks poses a serious threat to global actors government forces. The operation that was led
disrupting regional and international stability. by HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani
Yemen’s strategic location and its control over brought an end to the 53-year-long rule of the
the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical choke point al-Assad clan’s regime.11
connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, is Fifth, EAO in Myanmar. Other non-state actors
the crucial factor leading to such disrupting such as Haiti and Ethnic armed organizations in
events. Myanmar have also re-emerged into armed
Third, the Hezbollah’s in Lebanon. Hezbollah violence, which significantly changed the course
is an Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militia outfit. of global politics.
Established during the Lebanese civil war of In 2021, Myanmar faced a devastating coup de’
1975 to 1990, it evolved for the destruction of etat led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing,
the Israeli state and to Western influences in the aligned with the Union Solidarity and
region. The militant group vowed allegiance to Development Party (USDP), against the elected
Iran and advocated an “Iran-inspired Islamist government, the National League for
regime.” The party has had a role in Lebanese Democracy (NLD). The Military took power,
politics since 1992. It has held cabinet positions destroyed numerous villages and killed many,
since 2005. In 2009, the party entered evoking larger ethnic clashes. Since then, Ethnic
mainstream politics. The group receives most of Armed Organisations (EAO) such as and
its training, weapons, and funding from Iran. People’s Defence Forces began fighting against
Apart from this, Bashar al-Assad's regime in the military rule in Myanmar. Recently, in
Syria provided its support. The group is largely December 2024, the conflict intensified with a
known for its regular attacks on Jewish and siege of the Border Guard Police (BGP5)
Israeli targets abroad, such as the 1994 car barracks by the Arakan Army (AA), killing at
bombing in Argentina targeting a Jewish least 450 soldiers.12
community centre. The group’s enmity with Issues
Israel dates back to the Israeli occupation of First, the changing nature of warfare. The
Lebanon in 1978. Although there is a continuity rise of non-state armed actors has transformed
of clashes even after Israel’s withdrawal from the nature of war, making it unpredictable and
Lebanon in 2000. asymmetrical. They use tactics like suicide
The outbreak of the Hamas-Israel war in 2024 bombing and cyberspace to create fear and
intensified the Hezbollah-Israel war after Israeli panic, allowing states less opportunity to
airstrikes ramped up on Hezbollah's identify perpetrators. Non-state actors often use
infrastructure. In September 2024, religion and nationalism as rhetoric, such as
communication devices like walkie-talkies and Hezbollah and the Taliban. They use roadside
solar equipment used by Hezbollah exploded bombs, snipers, ambushes, and assassinations
across Lebanon, killing 32, according to BBC and intermingle indistinguishably with the
reports.9 civilians to use guerilla warfare techniques to
Fourth, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) in Syria. coerce State actors. This strategy complicates
It is an Islamist-militant group active in Syria traditional military responses and can prolong
that evolved at the beginning of the Syrian Civil conflicts. Thus, despite the political nature of
War. Formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, then Jabhat warfare, the emergence of armed non-state
Non-State Armed Actors and their Geopolitical Implications
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