Militias allege 171 US airspace violations amid Iraq disarmament push

Iran-backed militias in Iraq accused the United States of violating their airspace 171 times since the US-led anti-ISIS coalition ended its mission on September 30. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for these groups, released the count in a statement reported by Rudaw. The allegations land as Baghdad and militia leaders clash over the control of weapons.

The militias claimed US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft entered Iraqi airspace 171 times between September 30 and Friday. The groups did not provide independent verification for the figures. They also accused the Iraqi government of caving to Washington’s pressure, citing recent reductions in commercial flights and the closure of border crossings with Iran.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used the coalition’s departure to push a plan that would bring militia weapons under state authority. He extended the deadline for this disarmament to June 30, 2027. Zaidi told Iraqi state media that no weapons will remain outside the framework of the state by that date. Several powerful factions have rejected the initiative, though some groups have agreed to cooperate.

According to Rudaw, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to the disarmament effort. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to work with government measures. The split among the groups illustrates the difficulty of enforcing the new timeline across all armed factions.

Zaidi maintains that Iraq will soon be a state free of factions, with weapons exclusively in the hands of Iraqi security forces. He made this statement in an interview quoted by Rudaw on Friday. The goal is to end the presence of armed groups operating outside state control, a central challenge for the government since the coalition’s withdrawal.

Tensions escalated this weekend as the US State Department issued a new travel advisory for Iraq on Saturday. The update cited increasing threats from Iranian-backed Houthis and terrorist groups inside Iraq. The advisory maintained a warning against all travel to the country. It noted that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on airports and infrastructure, could lead to wider regional escalation.

The State Department warned that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence. It specifically identified threats from armed groups inside Iraq, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias. The advisory stated that these groups conduct attacks using drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices. Potential targets include airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities.

US intelligence officials also warned of increased Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats and officials. A memorandum dated Friday from National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that some alleged Iranian plots had reached advanced stages. Washington is reducing staffing at several embassies amid these concerns about regional escalation.

In Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center for the Kurdistan Free Life Party on Saturday. The attack took place in Iran but has implications for Iraq, where Tehran has previously targeted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. Clashes between the IRGC and the party’s armed wing have intensified over the last week, with Iran using drones and artillery against mountainous areas.