Iran-backed militias threaten Iraq’s ties with US and Gulf

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Escalating tensions between Iran-backed militias are providing one of the most serious hurdles yet to Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s ambitions to deepen ties with the United States and Gulf states while luring billions of dollars in international investment. The most recent crisis followed US-Saudi airstrikes on Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq, when Saudi Arabia accused militias operating from Iraqi territory of firing drones at oil installations in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. Riyadh claimed that the operation targeted the militias responsible for the assaults rather than the Iraqi state or its military forces, but Baghdad denounced the strikes as a breach of national sovereignty. The recent tensions are being fueled by numerous prominent Iran-aligned organizations operating inside Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), notably Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat al-Nujaba, and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada. While the PMF is technically part of Iraq’s security apparatus, many of its groups have strong links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and have occasionally conducted operations outside of Baghdad’s chain of command. Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi responded by calling an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security, canceling a planned trip to Saudi Arabia, and announcing a comprehensive security strategy to prevent Iraqi territory from being used to launch attacks on neighboring countries. The administration also reiterated its resolve to keep all weapons entirely under state control. That vow has gained importance after Al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington earlier this month, during which Iraq and the United States reiterated their commitment to completing the US-led coalition operation by the end of September 2026. During the visit, Al-Zaidi pledged to ensure that all weapons eventually come into the control of the Iraqi state, citing it as a cornerstone of his government’s security strategy and a crucial step toward bolstering Iraq’s sovereignty and stability. Since entering office, Al-Zaidi has maintained a policy of balancing Iraq’s ties with rival regional and international forces. During recent travels to Washington, Ankara, and Tehran, he achieved huge investment and cooperation deals totaling tens of billions of dollars in the energy, banking, technology, infrastructure, and industrial sectors. His administration has also attempted to strengthen connections with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, and other Gulf nations via new transportation corridors, energy alliances, and trade agreements aimed at diversifying Iraq’s economy beyond oil and positioning the country as a regional center linking the Gulf to Europe. According to analysts, Baghdad’s approach is highly dependent on proving that the Iraqi state, rather than armed groups, controls the country’s security and foreign policy. Continued strikes from Iraqi territory risk eroding the country’s reputation with major regional allies and international investors, at a time when foreign investment has risen after years of turmoil. The stakes rose when US President Donald Trump said that recent US-Saudi operations against Iran-backed militias were coordinated with the Iraqi government, a claim Baghdad has denied. Observers believe it reflects rising discontent among Iraq’s leadership with armed groups accused of dragging the nation into regional conflicts that contradict Baghdad’s diplomatic and economic interests. Al-Zaidi is currently facing the most significant test of his leadership. Delivering on his promise to place all weapons under state control will be critical not only for Iraq’s internal security but also for maintaining trust with the United States, Gulf Arab states, and international investors, many of whom support many of the country’s largest economic projects. Baghdad’s dilemma now extends beyond managing ties between Washington and Tehran. It demonstrates that the Iraqi state possesses both the authority and the political will to prevent Iran-backed militias from using Iraqi territory to launch attacks that risk isolating the country, harming relations with Arab neighbors and the United States, and jeopardizing Iraq’s long-term economic recovery and investment goals.