US Targets Iranian-Backed Militias in Iraq

On Wednesday, the United States took action against Iran, designating four militias based in Iraq as foreign terrorist organizations. This move targets what is referred to as the axis of resistance.

The State Department identified the groups as Harakat Al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah Al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, these militias, allied with Iran, have been attacking the US embassy in Baghdad as well as bases housing US and coalition forces, often using proxy groups to mask their involvement.

Based on insights from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), these four organizations are heavily supported by Iran and comprise the core of an umbrella group called the Iraqi Islamic Resistance (IRI). This coalition emerged following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The IRI is thought to be responsible for numerous assaults across Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. Additionally, it was linked to the death of three US service members in a drone strike in Jordan in January 2024.

Ben Talebli, an Iranian expert and senior director at FDD, noted that the Trump administration has previously broken new ground by naming and designating threats posed by Iran in Iraq. He commented that the current administration continues its campaign against Iranian influence and those enforcing it in Iraq.

The four designated groups are also part of the popular mobilization forces, which consist mainly of Shiite groups that were established by the Iraqi government to combat ISIS. They’re known to operate under substantial Iranian influence.

Talebli elaborated on how Tehran depends on these militias, effectively creating a state within Iraq. He suggested that these terror groups will find themselves caught between lists maintained by the US Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons and the State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations.