The Weaponization of the Environment in Warfare: The Islamic State and The Changing Landscape of Iraq

The environment-conflict nexus remains a subject of significant debate in scholarly discourse. On one hand, numerous studies argue that competition over scarce resources increases the likelihood of conflict and poses a tangible security threat. On the other hand, much research demonstrates that intergroup conflicts seriously threaten the environment and natural resources. This paper builds on this body of research by contending that, during conflict, the environment and natural resources play a pivotal role in shaping non-actors’ strategies. Rather than a passive backdrop or incidental casualty, the environment becomes a deliberate strategic asset: factions deploy it to undermine opponents, render regions uninhabitable, and legitimize their claims to power through resource control and monopolization. Focusing on Iraq during the Islamic State’s rise and defeat, this study examines the group’s weaponization of the environment. The case reveals a complex, evolving approach to environmental manipulation: the non-state actor initially controlled and protected resources to secure legitimacy, funding, and strategic gains. It stands out because most research on the Islamic State’s environmental interactions emphasizes destruction in its final phase. Through this analysis, the paper illuminates the sophisticated mechanisms of environmental weaponization in conflict zones and their far-reaching consequences for human populations and ecosystems.