Iraq’s PM seeks to disarm Iran-backed militias, but Tehran wants to meddle - analysis
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have roots stretching back to the 1980's and are the product of decades of Iranian policy aimed at cultivating armed proxies beyond its borders.
On August 12, Iraq's Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi visited the country's Operations Center at the Air Defense Command to assess the status of the air defense system and its readiness to protect Iraq's skies. Zaidi, who faces his most significant challenge since becoming Prime Minister, has received support from various factions, including powerful Shi'ite parties and Kurdish leadership. The US has backed his rise to power, as it seeks him to rein in the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
Recently, Iraq appeared to be moving forward with a new law to disarm the militias or place their weapons under state control. This move is reminiscent of Lebanon and Gaza's Board of Peace, which have also disarmed Iranian-backed groups. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces visited the Air Defense Command headquarters amid preparations for the upcoming withdrawal of international coalition forces, scheduled for September 30.
Meanwhile, Iran sent Esmail Ghaani, head of the IRGC Quds Force, to Iraq to rally support for the militias and maintain their presence. The Nujaba Movement, a sanctioned terrorist group by the US, rejected the calls to hand over their weapons. Zaidi reiterated that Iraq will not allow its territory or airspace to be used to launch attacks against neighboring countries.
The Iranian-backed militias' origins trace back to the 1980s when Iraqi Shi'ite opposition figures sought refuge in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. Over time, these exiles were trained and organized by the IRGC, particularly its Quds Force, leading to the emergence of influential political and military groups such as the Badr Organization, Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba.
These militias expanded their influence after the defeat of ISIS in 2014, carrying out numerous attacks on US and Coalition forces, diplomatic facilities, and intimidating political opponents.
Support for the Iraqi government's initiative to disarm the militias is visible in the Kurdistan region, which has been attacked over 1,000 times by Iran and Iranian-backed militias since February. Kurdistan Regional President Nechirvan Barzani acknowledged Iran's readiness to help Iraq with the issue of restricting weapons. On August 12, Zaidi chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security, demonstrating his commitment to securing Iraq and coordinating defense and security issues.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
