171 Flights: Militias Track US Air Activity in Iraq

Iran-backed militias in Iraq reported 171 instances of US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft violating Iraqi airspace between September 30 and October 23. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for these groups, released the findings via the news agency Rudaw. The counts were not independently verified.

The accusations arose as Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi pushes a plan to consolidate militia weapons under state control. The US-led anti-ISIS coalition formally ended its military mission in Iraq on September 30. Zaidi extended the deadline for this disarmament process to June 30, 2027. In an interview with Iraqi state media, he stated that no weapons would remain outside the framework of the state by that date.

Support for the plan is divided among the armed factions. Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to the measures. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate. The militias accused Baghdad of appeasing Washington, citing reduced commercial flights and closed border crossings with Iran as evidence of US pressure.

The US State Department issued a travel advisory update on Saturday, citing increased regional threats. The advisory warned that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia could lead to wider escalation. It noted that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence. Potential targets for attacks by armed groups include airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities.

The State Department specified that terrorists, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, encourage and conduct attacks against US persons and interests in Iraq. The warning cited drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices as common methods. The advisory maintained the existing warning against all travel to Iraq.

Regional tensions have intensified in other areas. US intelligence warned of increased Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats. A memorandum from National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that some plots had reached advanced stages. Additionally, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported targeting a gathering center of the Kurdistan Free Life Party in Iran. Clashes with the Eastern Kurdistan Units have intensified over the past week, with Iran using drones and artillery.

Zaidi reiterated his goal of a state free of factions. He said Iraq would soon be a state where weapons are exclusively in the hands of Iraqi security forces. The government continues to insist on ending the presence of armed factions operating outside state control despite resistance from key militia leaders.