IRI cites 171 US air moves as Zaidi presses 2027 disarmament
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq documented repeated US flights after the coalition ended its mission, while Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi maintains a 2027 deadline for disarmament.
By Tunde Bailey ·
Tensions between Baghdad and Iran-backed armed groups have intensified following the conclusion of the US-led coalition mission in Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for several militias, accused Washington of breaching Iraqi airspace 171 times between September 30 and October 23, 2026.
The coalition formally ended its military operations in Iraq on September 30. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used the transition period to push for state control over militia weapons. The disarmament plan is scheduled to take effect by June 30, 2027. Zaidi stated in an interview with Iraqi state media that no weapons should remain outside the state framework by that date.
Militia factions are split on the new policy. Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have rejected the disarmament initiative. Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate with government measures. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also accused the Iraqi government of appeasing the United States under pressure from Washington.
The group cited the reduction of commercial flights and the closure of border crossings with Iran as evidence of Baghdad's concessions. The airspace violations were attributed to US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft. The militias said they documented the flights but did not provide independent verification of the count.
The US State Department issued an updated travel advisory on Saturday, warning of increased regional threats. The advisory maintained the existing recommendation against all travel to Iraq. It cited threats from the Iranian-backed Houthis and attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and critical infrastructure.
The State Department noted that Houthi hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area. It also warned that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence. The advisory specifically mentioned threats from armed groups inside Iraq, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias.
US intelligence warned of increased Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats and officials in the Middle East. A memorandum dated October 23 from National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that some alleged Iranian plots had reached advanced stages. Washington is reducing staffing at several embassies in response to concerns about regional escalation.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center of the Kurdistan Free Life Party, an Iranian Kurdish opposition group, on Saturday. Clashes between the IRGC and the party's armed wing have intensified over the last week. Iran used drones and artillery against mountainous areas where the fighters operate. Zaidi reiterated that Iraq will soon be a state free of factions, with weapons exclusively in the hands of Iraqi security forces.
