Iranian militias in Iraq ready to disarm due to threat from the US - Reuters
Kyiv • UNN
Several Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are for the first time ready to disarm to avoid escalating conflict with the Trump administration. The US has threatened airstrikes if Iraq does not disband these groups.
Several powerful Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are ready to disarm for the first time to prevent the threat of escalating conflict with the administration of US President Donald Trump. This was reported by Reuters, citing "10 senior commanders and Iraqi officials", reports UNN.
Details
According to sources of the publication, this step, aimed at defusing tensions, occurred after repeated warnings made by US officials in private to the Iraqi government since Trump came to power in January.
Officials told Baghdad that if it did not disband the militias operating on its territory, the US could launch airstrikes against these groups, people added
Izzat al-Shahbandar, a high-ranking Shiite Muslim politician close to Iraq's ruling alliance, said that negotiations between Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and several militia leaders were "very advanced" and that the groups were inclined to comply with US calls for disarmament.
The factions are not acting stubbornly and are not insisting on continuing to operate in their current form
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According to al-Shahbandar, the groups were "fully aware" that they could be targeted by the US.
The authors note that Iraq seeks to balance its alliances with both the US and Iran in the fight against militias on its territory. The groups emerged throughout the country thanks to financial and military support from Iran after the chaotic US invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein and became formidable forces that could compete with the national army in firepower.
"Militants based in Iraq have carried out dozens of drone and missile attacks against Israel in solidarity with Hamas since the start of the war in Gaza and killed three American soldiers in a drone operation in Jordan near the Syrian border last year," the article said.
Recall
In March, during a special operation in Iraq, Abdalla Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, known as "Abu Khadija", was eliminated. He was one of the most dangerous terrorists and the "deputy caliph" of ISIS.
