Militias Log 171 US Air Intrusions Since Coalition Exit

An alliance of Iran-backed groups in Iraq has accused United States aircraft of entering the country's airspace 171 times since late September.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued the count on Friday, stating that the incursions occurred between September 30 and the day of the statement. The group did not independently verify the data, but it framed the flights as evidence of continued American presence despite the withdrawal of the anti-ISIS coalition. The coalition formally ended its military mission in Iraq on September 30.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has linked the departure of coalition forces to a plan to bring all militia weapons under state control. He extended the deadline for this disarmament to June 30, 2027. In an interview with Iraqi state media, Zaidi stated that no weapons would remain outside the framework of the state by that date. He added that Iraq would soon be a state free of factions, with weapons held exclusively by Iraqi security forces.

Reactions to the disarmament plan are split among the various armed groups. Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have rejected the initiative, while Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate. The broader alliance of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq criticized the government for appeasing Washington, specifically citing the reduction of commercial flights and the closing of border crossings with Iran.

Washington has simultaneously raised security alerts for the region. The US Embassy in Iraq updated a travel advisory on Saturday, maintaining a warning against all travel. The State Department cited increased threats from the Iranian-backed Houthis and noted that attacks on Saudi infrastructure could lead to wider escalation. The advisory stated that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence.

The State Department also identified specific threats from armed groups within Iraq. It noted that terrorists, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, conduct attacks using drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices. Potential targets include airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities. The department warned that these groups threaten American citizens and international companies.

Further regional tensions emerged on Saturday when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center of the Kurdistan Free Life Party in Iran. Clashes between the IRGC and the party's armed wing have intensified over the last week, with Iran using drones and artillery in mountainous areas. Separately, US intelligence warned of advanced Iranian plots to assassinate American diplomats in the Middle East.