US flag trampling, militia disarmament dispute mark Iraq’s post-US withdrawal era

In the wake of the departure of US forces from Iraq on September 30, Baghdad faces renewed challenges associated with the country’s powerful Iran-backed militias. Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-backed security organization composed largely of Iran-backed militias, were photographed driving over an American flag in the days after the US withdrawal, an incident that drew controversy in Iraq. The country continues to grapple with whether the militias will keep their arms, and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi has sought to have them turn over their weapons to the state by June 2027.

The flag incident was condemned in Iraq and abroad and received widespread attention in regional media. Iraq’s Prime Minister’s Office said that “the competent authorities have arrested those involved in the violation against the American flag in Baghdad,” adding that the government would hold those involved accountable. The office stressed that Iraq respects symbols of friendly countries. Zaidi has worked to cultivate close ties with the US, meeting with President Donald Trump in the White House in July. He also met Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

In Washington, Congressman Joe Wilson condemned the desecration of the American flag. “The PMF [Popular Mobilization Forces], an official division of the Iraqi government’s security services, is seen desecrating the U.S. flag out of disrespect and praising the murderous regime in Iran,” he wrote on X on October 4. Wilson’s post underscored the continued controversy over Iran-backed militias within Iraq’s security forces by noting that the Popular Mobilization Forces are part of the state security apparatus.

Many of the militias within the PMF have been designated by the US as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and their leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). The US has offered rewards for information on key individuals.

In the wake of the flag-desecration controversy in Baghdad, a video circulated showing Akram al Kaabi, secretary-general of the Iran-backed Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba militia, trampling the American flag. It was not clear where or when the event took place, but the video was posted on October 4 and appeared to challenge the prime minister’s messaging after the first incident. The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program offered $10 million for information on Kaabi in May 2026. Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba has also been sanctioned by the US.

Zaidi’s spokesperson affirmed on October 4 that Baghdad’s goal would remain to restrict weapons to state control by the June 30 deadline. The New Arab noted that five militias have agreed to place their arms under state control. These include Saraya al Salam, Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada, Asaib Ahl al Haq, Kataib Imam Ali, and Ansar Allah al Awfiya. Shafaq News and Kurdistan24 confirmed on October 6 that Zaidi had mentioned this number but did not name the groups. The New Arab also said that several militias were still holding out, including Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, Ashab al Kahf, and Saraya Awliya al Dam.

Zaidi’s push for disarmament was the subject of a meeting with tribal sheikhs on October 5. Separately, Asharq al Awsat noted on October 5 that the prime minister “warned the Shiite Coordination Framework of the consequences of failing to meet agreed deadlines for bringing weapons under state control, as Washington reaffirmed that its economic partnership with Baghdad was moving forward” during a meeting between Zaidi and the ruling Shiite political alliance. Many parties within the Coordination Framework are linked to PMF militias.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel’s Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).