U.S. Must Pressure Baghdad To Rein in Iran-Backed Militias

After largely sitting out the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran in June last year, Tehran’s proxies in Iraq quickly jumped into the fighting after the United States and Israel began operations against the Islamic Republic on February 28.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella for U.S.-designated militias in Iraq, claimed 16 operations against U.S. targets on February 28; then 23 operations on March 1 using “dozens of drones;” and 28 operations with “dozens of missiles and drones” on March 2. Iran-backed militias are also behind the nightly unrest witnessed in Baghdad since the war began. Militia members and supporters gathered at the Green Zone — the heavily fortified area of Baghdad that houses the U.S. Embassy — and clashed with security forces while trying to reach the embassy.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani instructed the “security apparatus to confront and counter any action that could undermine security and stability in the country, and to prevent any party or entity from carrying out operations that would drag Iraq into the ongoing conflicts.” However, he failed to name the militias. The Iraqi government’s reluctance to stand up to Iran’s proxy militias enables Tehran’s partners to foster chaos and harm U.S. interests.

Militias Join the Fray

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on March 2 that more than 70 missiles and drones had targeted Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, since the conflict with Iran began. Tehran and its Iraqi proxies have focused on U.S. installations, targeting the consulate in Erbil as well as the city’s international airport and the nearby Harir Air Base, both of which host American troops.

Saraya Awliya al-Dam, a militia operating under the IRI banner, also claimed at least one attack against U.S. forces at Baghdad International Airport. Separately, Kataib Hezbollah, one of the most powerful Iran-backed militias and an IRI member, threatened to launch a “prolonged war of attrition” against the United States aimed at removing the American presence from Iraq and the wider region.

 Quantifying the U.S. military presence in federal Iraq is challenging since Iraqi officials claimed that U.S. forces departed the country in January 2026. U.S. Central Command has not confirmed the complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq, although it has acknowledged the planned force reduction.

Protests in Baghdad Target U.S. Embassy

Iraqi militiamen and their supporters have come out into the streets of Baghdad to protest the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and show support for the Islamic Republic. After Iraqi security forces used tear gas and water cannons against  rioters throwing stones, they closed the Green Zone.

This was not the first time that Iraqi militiamen attempted to enter the U.S. Embassy. In 2019, they stormed the compound after an American airstrike killed Kataib Hezbollah fighters.

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq issued an alert to American citizens warning, “Iran-aligned terrorist militias continue to pose a significant threat to public safety,” citing missile, drone, and rocket attacks as well as the violent protests. The State Department also issued an advisory to U.S. citizens across the Middle East, urging them to depart immediately.

U.S. Must Warn That Attacks Will Be Punished

Despite Prime Minister Sudani’s claim that Baghdad wishes to stay out of conflict, the militias have already dragged the country into the fight. The ongoing operations have conducted limited strikes against the Islamic Republic’s Iraqi partners.

The United States and Israel should continue to target groups and cells attacking U.S. forces and partners. The Trump administration should also convey to Iraq’s leadership that if attacks against the United States continue, Washington will target those who authorize the attacks, not just those who execute them.

Washington should also remind Baghdad that if any members of these militias hold senior roles in the incoming Iraqi government, then the government will itself be a target of sanctions.

Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Bridget and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Bridget on X @BridgetKToomey. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.