Iraqi Militias Linked to Iran Weigh Disarmament Amid Trump Admin's Warnings
Amid escalating tensions and looming threats from the US Trump administration, several powerful Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq are reportedly considering disarming. This move, potentially unprecedented, aims to avert direct conflict with the United States, according to multiple senior commanders and Iraqi officials.
The decision comes after repeated private warnings from US officials to the Iraqi government, stating that inaction against these militias could result in targeted US airstrikes. The militias, deeply embedded within Iraq's security landscape, have long been a source of regional instability.
Izzat al-Shahbndar, a senior Shiite politician with close ties to Iraq's governing alliance, revealed that discussions between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and militia leaders are in advanced stages. The groups are seemingly inclined to comply with US demands for disarmament, fully aware of the potential consequences of defiance.
Commanders from key groups, including Kataeb Hezbollah, al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, confirmed these developments. Speaking anonymously, they acknowledged the severity of the threat posed by the Trump administration.
A commander from Kataeb Hezbollah, the most powerful Shiite militia, stated, "Trump is ready to take the war with us to worse levels, we know that, and we want to avoid such a bad scenario."
Crucially, these militias have reportedly received the blessing of Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) to make necessary decisions to avoid a potentially devastating conflict with the US and Israel. This suggests a calculated effort by Iran to de-escalate tensions in the region.
These militias operate under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of approximately 10 hardline Shiite armed factions. The group possesses an estimated 50,000 fighters and an arsenal that includes long-range missiles and anti-aircraft weapons. Since the start of the Gaza war, they have claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on Israel and US forces in Iraq and Syria.
Prime Minister Sudani's foreign affairs advisor, Farhad Alaadin, stated that the prime minister is committed to ensuring that all weapons within Iraq are under state control through constructive dialogue.
While the specifics of the disarmament process are still under discussion, options include transforming the groups into political parties or integrating them into the Iraqi armed forces.
An American official expressed skepticism about the long-term sustainability of any disarmament agreement, recalling past instances where militias temporarily ceased attacks due to US pressure.