Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups have carried out large-scale relocations and changes to their bases and weapons depots.
Sources affiliated with these groups confirmed this and told the media that with the renewed war in Gaza and recent attacks in Lebanon, some political factions in Iraq, “fearing an Israeli attack,” have put “pressure on Iran-aligned armed groups.”
A senior member of the “Iraqi Resistance Coordination” told the media that Iraq’s Prime Minister had recently contacted the leaders of these groups, urging them to refrain from any “military action against Israel.”
Previously, Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), traveled to Iraq and urged Iran-aligned armed groups to avoid any action against the U.S. and Israel that could lead to a loss of control over the situation.
On March 18, Reuters reported, citing informed sources, that the Iranian regime had asked Yemen’s Houthis to de-escalate tensions.
On March 15, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning—also published in Persian—stating that from now on, any attack by Yemen’s Houthis would be considered an assault using Iranian weapons and under Iranian direction.
Four days later, on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that although Iran’s military support for the Houthis had declined, Tehran was still supplying the group with significant amounts of equipment and logistics.
U.S. State Department Warns Iraqi Government About Iran-Backed Armed Groups’ Activities
Tami Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, told reporters that the activities of any militia group not under the full control of the Iraqi government were unacceptable within Iraq’s borders.
Bruce further warned the Iraqi government, stressing that Baghdad must ensure full command and control over all security forces, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi).
Iraq’s Shia political forces, after intense discussions among themselves and with the leaders of armed groups, have reached an agreement under which the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) will be kept away from politics, and all armed groups will be integrated into this institution.
On the evening of Tuesday, March 25, Shafaq News reported in an exclusive piece that the Coordination Framework factions had reached an initial agreement approving the integration of armed groups into the PMF. Additionally, under the agreement, armed groups would no longer be allowed to attack U.S. interests in Iraq and must halt cross-border operations.
Shafaq News noted the “sensitivity of Iraq’s situation” and stated that the current phase requires maximum measures to ensure the country’s security.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War reported that Trump’s message to Iran included a demand for the dissolution of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.
