Echoes of Conflict: Competing Narratives Shape Iraq’s Political and Security Landscape post-Assad

EdgeTheory's Narrative Intelligence brief on Chinese Economic Warfare uncovers how the People's Republic of China (PRC) exploits vulnerabilities in U.S. law to advance its strategic goals. Through sophisticated information operations, Chinese state-controlled and affiliated entities manipulate public sentiment and policy discussions surrounding technology and intellectual property. EdgeTheory’s real-time analysis identifies key tactics used by the PRC, including amplifying pro-CCP narratives through social media and leveraging foreign non-state sources to create an illusion of independent verification. Additionally, EdgeTheory’s geopolitical threat monitoring exposes China’s use of patent litigation as an economic warfare strategy—employing legal mechanisms such as the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to weaken U.S. innovation while appropriating technology for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). These findings reveal a coordinated effort to manipulate global perceptions of China’s technological dominance while undermining foreign competition through aggressive legal and narrative warfare.

By utilizing AI-driven narrative threat analytics, EdgeTheory identifies how adversarial narratives shape global and regional stability. Through geospatial intelligence and multilingual analysis, EdgeTheory’s platform tracks emerging threats, identifies key influencers, and maps narrative amplification strategies in real time. This capability allows intelligence analysts and decision-makers to proactively counter foreign malign influence (FMI) and safeguard economic and national security interests. As demonstrated in our latest analysis, EdgeTheory empowers organizations to detect, analyze, and mitigate narrative manipulation with precision—providing a critical advantage in the ever-evolving information landscape. Read the full report here.

Ties between the Shia-led governments of Iraq and Syria have long been reinforced by their shared guarantor state, Iran. Following the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad by opposition forces in November 2024, the future of Iraqi-Syrian relations remains uncertain. However, narrative analysis can provide insights into how influential players in Iraq plan to respond to these developments in the coming months. This report aims to (a) assess the reactions of Iran’s Axis of Resistance (AOR) in Iraq to the security dilemma created by the fall of the Assad regime; and (b) analyze the impact of recent regional developments on Iraqi political narratives. Part one of this report focuses on Iraqi AOR responses to the Syrian transition as Syria's interim government began to consolidate its authority, prompting Tehran to pause and reassess its operational strategies and diplomatic engagements in the region. Part two of this report focuses on the further evolution of Iraqi political narratives as the dynamics of Syria’s transition and trajectory become clearer, examining how domestic political actors are reconfiguring their strategic outlooks amid shifting security imperatives. 

The narrative analysis presented in this report was generated with EdgeTheory’s narrative analytics platform using modules designed to track online conversations surrounding responses to and impacts of Syrian regime change in Iraq. This AI-driven technology ingests and analyzes source data to uncover thematic and behavioral trends among publishers and influencers, using detected trends, themes, keywords, and amplifications to provide insights into the effectiveness of deployed information campaigns. Data extracted from this platform can be used to identify patterns in narrative amplifications and themes, allowing analysts to generate valuable inferences and predictions regarding strategic messaging shifts, influence operations, and evolving regional narratives.

Let’s say you and I are discussing a recent basketball game. The conversation might cover the final score, the coach’s decisions, or a controversial call from the referees. Now, what if the mode of delivery changes? Maybe we’re talking in person, texting, or debating in a public social media thread. The topic stays the same, […]

The Strategic Importance of Yemen in Global Supply Chains Yemen’s geopolitical instability has become a critical concern for global supply chains, disrupting vital trade routes and increasing operational risks. Positioned at the southern gateway to the Red Sea—one of the world’s most crucial maritime corridors—Yemen’s conflict affects the Suez Canal, Gulf of Aden, and the […]

Foreign malign influencers (FMI) are accelerating narratives around critical minerals, amplifying China's dominance while portraying U.S. policies as ineffective. With China leveraging its supply chain control for economic and geopolitical influence, FMI sources from Russia, Iran, and other aligned entities are actively promoting narratives that undermine U.S. credibility and international partnerships. These narratives strategically target key audiences in Washington, D.C., and Ukraine, using tailored messaging to sow division and weaken Western policy responses. Meanwhile, Western narratives remain fragmented, in a stark contrast to the coordinated nature of malign influence campaigns, leaving policymakers and businesses vulnerable to distorted perceptions of global resource competition.

EdgeTheory's Narrative Intelligence technology provides a powerful solution to detect and respond to these influence operations. By tracking and analyzing the amplification patterns of malign narratives, EdgeTheory reveals the coordinated efforts of FMI and highlights the key themes driving global discourse. Through real-time narrative mapping, intelligence analysts, business leaders, and policymakers gain critical insights into emerging risks, enabling them to respond strategically and maintain decision advantage. EdgeTheory equips organizations with the tools to detect disinformation, assess shifting geopolitical alignments, and develop informed strategies to navigate the evolving information warfare landscape.

China’s aggression against Taiwan is a key step in a broader play to shift the balance of power away from the US and increase China’s regional hegemony, boosting its trans-Pacific influence. China’s priority on regional influence explains the emphasis on information dominance (propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation) which plays a central role in China’s ability to […]

Foreign Malign Influencers (FMI) are increasingly promoting narratives that position China as a global leader in AI technology, particularly in healthcare applications. EdgeTheory's Narrative Intelligence brief reveals a coordinated effort to frame China’s AI advancements as both technologically superior and humanitarian-driven. By analyzing millions of sources, EdgeTheory has identified that these narratives not only originate from Chinese-aligned outlets but are also amplified by Russian, Iranian, and other FMI sources. The reach of these narratives is extensive, targeting Western audiences—particularly in Washington, DC and Switzerland—to influence public perception of China’s role in AI development.

EdgeTheory’s AI models provide real-time intelligence on adversarial information operations, helping analysts uncover coordinated narrative strategies that might otherwise go undetected. By mapping the alignment of FMI sources and tracking their thematic trends, EdgeTheory enables intelligence professionals to assess risks more accurately, detect where malign influence comes from, and respond to misleading narratives before they distort public discourse. With these capabilities, organizations and decision-makers can maintain a strategic advantage in an evolving cognitive warfare landscape, ensuring that influence operations are effectively identified and mitigated.

In 2024, coordinated foreign malign influencer (FMI) campaigns targeting US policies toward Taiwan escalated significantly, with Chinese narratives alone increasing by 60%. EdgeTheory's Narrative Intelligence brief on arms sales to Taiwan highlights how FMI sources, such as RT and Ecns.cn, exploit loaded language like "playing with fire" to depict US actions as provocations. This framing skews perceptions, portraying the US as an instigator while obscuring China's aggressive stance. The analysis reveals that Chinese, Iranian, and Russian sources distribute these narratives almost equally, illustrating a broad, coordinated effort to amplify anti-US sentiment. By tracking the resurgence of such messaging from official statements into widespread misinformation campaigns, EdgeTheory underscores how these narratives influence both regional and global audiences.

EdgeTheory's tools provide actionable insights into this narrative warfare, leveraging multilingual analysis to trace the spread and alignment of misinformation. Through geospatial mapping and real-time tracking, analysts can identify shifts in narrative focus, such as FMI efforts targeting audiences in Beijing and Taipei more than the US. These insights allow stakeholders to anticipate risks, identify potential military provocations, and counteract misleading narratives. EdgeTheory’s platform empowers users to evaluate narrative influence, strategically respond to misinformation, and strengthen public and investor relations. By demonstrating these capabilities, EdgeTheory offers invaluable tools for mitigating the risks posed by global information warfare and ensuring informed decision-making in complex geopolitical environments.

The wildfires in Los Angeles County, California have had devastating consequences for communities, economies, and ecosystems. Yet, amidst the chaos, a less visible threat emerges—foreign malign influencers (FMIs) exploiting these disasters to sow division and manipulate narratives. Foreign Malign Influence (FMI) refers to efforts by foreign governments or entities to manipulate, distort, or exploit information, […]

China’s recent decision to restrict critical mineral exports to the United States has sparked a wave of narratives globally, highlighting the complex interplay of economics, geopolitics, and national security. Unlock the Full Story Behind the Narratives Shaping Global PerceptionsDiscover how US media and foreign malign influencers are framing China's critical mineral restrictions—and why it matters […]