Airspace Disputes: Militias Count 171 US Incursions

171. That is the number of times Iran-backed militias say US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft breached Iraqi airspace between September 30 and Friday. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq released a statement detailing the alleged violations. The group describes itself as an umbrella organization for several armed factions in the country. The report appeared as tensions rose between Baghdad and these groups over the future of their weapons.

The accusations followed the formal end of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition mission on September 30. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used the transition period to push for a unified state control over militia armaments. 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 state framework by that date. He added that Iraq would become a state free of factions, with weapons exclusively in the hands of security forces.

The militias criticized Baghdad for appeasing Washington. They pointed to the reduction of commercial flights and the closure of border crossings with Iran as evidence of US pressure. The IRI noted that some factions have accepted the disarmament plan while others have rejected it. According to Rudaw, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to the initiative. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate.

The State Department issued an updated travel advisory on Saturday. It warned of increased threats from Iran-backed Houthis and terrorist groups in Iraq. The advisory maintained a warning against all travel to the country. It cited Houthi strikes on Saudi civilian airports and infrastructure as potential triggers for wider regional escalation. The department stated that the hostilities could escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area.

The advisory specifically named armed groups inside Iraq as threats to US persons and interests. It listed drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices as common attack methods. Potential targets included airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities. The State Department noted that the Iraqi government could not guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence.

US intelligence officials also warned of increased Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats. A memorandum dated Friday from National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that some plots had reached advanced stages. Washington has reduced staffing at several embassies in response. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center for the Kurdistan Free Life Party in Iran. Clashes between the IRGC and the group’s armed wing have intensified over the last week using drones and artillery.