171 US Airflights Logged in Iraq Since Coalition Withdrawal
Iran-backed militias claim US jets violated Iraqi airspace 171 times in five weeks, a count that complicates Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's push to disarm armed factions by June 2027.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
Iraqi airspace saw 171 US military flights in the five weeks following the coalition's exit.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization of Iran-backed militias, issued a statement counting 171 violations of Iraqi airspace by US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft. The group said these incursions occurred between September 30 and Friday. The US-led anti-ISIS coalition formally ended its military mission in Iraq on September 30. The militias have not provided independent verification for their count. They also accused the government in Baghdad of appeasing Washington due to pressure from the United States.
The accusations land as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi attempts to place militia weapons under state control. Several powerful factions have rejected this initiative. The plan is scheduled to take effect by June 2027. Some militias have agreed to the disarmament measures, while others have refused. According to Rudaw, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to the process. Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate with government measures. Zaidi extended the disarmament deadline to June 30, 2027. He stated in an interview with Iraqi state media that no weapons will remain outside the framework of the state by that date.
The dispute highlights a central challenge for the Iraqi government. Iran-backed factions continue to portray their weapons as necessary for confronting Washington and Israel. The IRI is also unhappy that Baghdad has been reducing commercial flights and closing border crossings with Iran. The group supports Iran and issued the statement amid speculation about a possible new war.
The US State Department warned of increasing regional threats that could affect security in Iraq on Saturday. The US Embassy in Iraq published an update to the travel advisory. It cited the threat of increased attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. The advisory maintained the existing warning against all travel to Iraq. It noted that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and critical infrastructure, could lead to wider regional escalation. The State Department said the hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area. It also noted that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence and armed conflict.
The warning highlighted threats from armed groups inside Iraq. The State Department said terrorists, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, encourage and conduct attacks against US persons and interests in Iraq. It warned that militias threaten American citizens and international companies. It cited attacks involving drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices. Potential targets include airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities.
US intelligence warned of increased Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats and officials in the Middle East and elsewhere on Saturday. A memorandum dated Friday from US National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio said some alleged Iranian plots had reached advanced stages. Washington is reducing staffing at several embassies amid concerns about regional escalation.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday that it targeted a gathering center belonging to the Kurdistan Free Life Party. The attack took place in Iran but could have implications for Iraq. Clashes between the IRGC and the party's armed wing, the Eastern Kurdistan Units, have intensified over the last week. Iran has used drones and artillery against mountainous areas where the Kurdish fighters operate. Iran's Mehr News Agency described the latest operation as a preemptive strike against members allegedly preparing attacks.
Zaidi insisted that his government will end the presence of armed factions operating outside state control. He said in an interview quoted by Rudaw on Friday that Iraq will soon be a state free of factions, like other countries in the world. He added that weapons will be exclusively in the hands of the Iraqi security forces.
