Militia Disarmament Deadlines Clash With US Air Activity

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq accused the United States of breaching Iraqi airspace 171 times between September 30 and Friday. The umbrella group of Iran-backed militias claimed these incursions involved fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft. The allegations emerged as tensions rose between Baghdad and the armed factions.

The US-led anti-ISIS coalition formally ended its military mission in Iraq on September 30. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used this transition to push for state control over militia weapons. Several powerful factions have rejected this initiative, while others have agreed to cooperate.

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to disarmament measures. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada expressed willingness to work with the government. Zaidi extended the deadline for full disarmament to June 30, 2027. He stated in an interview with Iraqi state media that no weapons would remain outside the state framework by that date.

The State Department issued an updated travel advisory on Saturday. It warned of increasing regional threats that could affect security in Iraq. The advisory cited the threat of attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. It also noted terrorist threats posed by Iran-backed militias within Iraq.

The warning maintained the existing advice against all travel to Iraq. It noted that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia could lead to wider regional escalation. The State Department said the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence. It identified airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities as potential targets for drones and improvised explosive devices.

US intelligence reported 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 warned that some plots had reached advanced stages. Washington is reducing staffing at several embassies amid these concerns.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center of the Kurdistan Free Life Party in Iran on Saturday. Clashes between the IRGC and the party's armed wing, the Eastern Kurdistan Units, have intensified over the last week. Iran used drones and artillery against mountainous areas where Kurdish fighters operate. Mehr News Agency described the operation as a preemptive strike.