Is what is currently happening in Iraq a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) from which one must stay away, or is it permissible to join the Muslims in fighting the disbelievers?

Abu Malik: A questioner asks: Is this ongoing war and the situation in which Muslims are living a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in which a Muslim must stay in his home and refrain from speaking about it? Or is it obligatory for him to participate in this war, or these wars, on the side of the Muslims against the disbelievers from both sides? We ask for clarification of the answer, and may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : I think this has already been answered previously.
Abu Malik: Yes, indeed.

The Shaykh : There is nothing new in it, and the summary of what was said before, which we mentioned to you in past words and to which I referred earlier when the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) arose, was that we were reminding you of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) because the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) was between a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) where a Muslim attacked another Muslim, and another fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that brought the disbelievers into the lands of the Muslims. At that time, there was a fear that the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) would occur among the Muslims themselves, so we were presenting to you his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) in some of the hadiths regarding fitnah (trial, discord or temptation): because both parties are contrary to the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law); the one who rebelled against his neighbor and the one who brought the disbelievers into his home. Therefore, it is not appropriate for us to be with these or with those. However, now that the situation has developed from what it was at the beginning, and all the disbelievers have united against the Muslims in Iraq, here we do not say: except in the case of individuals, as we said. But if an Islamic state advances to assist the Iraqis against their enemies, then at that time it is obligatory for all of us, everyone who is able, to strive in the path of Allah (jihad) with them. This was the summary of what I spoke of earlier, and the answer to this question is what has been mentioned before.