Militias Count 171 US Flights

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have documented 171 entries by US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft into their airspace since September 30. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for these groups, released the count on Friday. The allegations follow the formal end of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition’s military mission in Iraq on September 30.

The militias stated that the flights violated Iraqi sovereignty. They also accused the Iraqi government of yielding to Washington’s pressure. The group criticized Baghdad for reducing commercial flights and closing border crossings with Iran. The IRI maintains that these actions favor US interests while ignoring local security concerns.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used the coalition's departure to push for a state monopoly on weapons. The plan aims to bring militia arsenals under government control by June 30, 2027. Zaidi told Iraqi state media that no weapons would remain outside the state framework by that date. Several powerful factions have rejected this initiative, though some have agreed to cooperate.

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to the disarmament measures. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to work with the government. The split among the militias complicates Baghdad’s effort to consolidate control over armed groups.

The State Department updated its travel advisory for Iraq on Saturday. It cited increased threats from Iran-backed Houthis and terrorist groups within Iraq. The advisory warned that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could lead to wider regional escalation. It noted that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence.

US intelligence officials have also raised alarms about Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats. A memorandum from National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, dated Friday, warned that some plots had reached advanced stages. Washington is reducing staffing at several embassies in response to these concerns.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center of the Kurdistan Free Life Party in Iran on Saturday. The group is an Iranian Kurdish opposition faction with ties to Iraq. The IRGC used drones and artillery in the operation, which it described as a preemptive strike against members preparing attacks.