Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba

October 24, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian-backed Iraqi militias in spotlight after Secretary of State Rubio’s call with Prime Minister Sudani

Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al Sudani “urged the United States to avoid unilateral decisions in Iraq, insisting that all actions impacting bilateral ties must go through formal diplomatic channels,”...

October 13, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh |

How the Iranian regime’s foreign proxies suppress Iranian protestors

It is no secret that the Islamic Republic has long sponsored proxy groups abroad, yet far less is known about how these same networks have been used to protect the regime at home. Lebanese Hezbollah, Iraqi...

September 18, 2025 | Bridget Toomey |

US designates 4 Iran-backed Iraqi militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The US State Department designated four Iran-backed militias in Iraq as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on September 17. These militias, Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada,...

September 17, 2025 | |

U.S. Designates 4 ‘Iran-Aligned’ Militias in Iraq as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

New Terrorist Designations: The State Department designated four Iraq-based, “Iran-aligned” armed militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on September 17. The groups...

June 16, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi, Bridget Toomey

Iraqi militias largely rely on rhetoric in response to Israel-Iran conflict—for now

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have resorted mainly to words, not actions, to support Iran since direct conflict between Israel and Iran began on June 13. The statements issued by the groups have included...

June 13, 2025 | Bill Roggio, Bridget Toomey

US adds Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Imam Ali to list of terror organizations

The US Treasury Department added Kataib Imam Ali (the “Imam Ali Brigades”) to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists on June 12, 2025. Kataib Imam Ali is one of the many Iraqi...

April 9, 2025 | Bridget Toomey, Janatan Sayeh

Washington Must Pressure Baghdad to Disarm Iran’s Proxy Militias in Iraq

Gaza and Yemen are well established as two arenas of the ongoing struggle between the United States and Iran, but Iraq is another vital stage that has garnered comparatively less attention. That may now...

April 8, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh |

Iran braces for possible US attack amid proxy setbacks

An anonymous Iranian official told Reuters on April 6 that Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has instructed Iranian armed forces to be on high alert. The source also said Tehran has...

February 19, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Head of Iraq’s powerful pro-Iranian Popular Mobilization Units visits Tehran

On February 18, Falih al Fayyadh, the chairman of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), visited Tehran and met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a report in Iranian state media.

January 28, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq face an uncertain future

Iraq’s pro-Iranian militias face an uncertain future after the December fall of the Bashar al Assad regime in Syria and amid pressure from Iraqi authorities for armed groups to be disbanded or incorporated...

December 29, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Pro-Iran militias in Iraq may move away from Syria border

The point of the report is that the Iraqis want to show that the militias who played a role in Syria will now not just be in Iraq, but will be moved away from the border.

December 23, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq may stop attacking Israel

A report this week indicates that some of these militias and groups have stepped back from attacks in the wake of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.

November 22, 2024 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Israeli Military Action is Key to Stopping Iran’s Proxies in Iraq

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq continue to launch drone and missile attacks against Israel in a show of solidarity with their allies in Gaza and Lebanon. Although many claims remain unverified, some attacks...

November 6, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

How will Iran’s proxies in Iraq respond to US election?

Iranian militias ramp up drone attacks on Israel, await US response post-election.

September 26, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Can Iraqi militias be deterred from attacking Israel?

It is clear that the Iraqi militias are expanding their war against Israel and are increasingly a danger.

July 31, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US struck Iran-backed militias after new threats

Strikes in Iraq reflect an attempt by Iran to open a new front against the US after several months of quiet in Iraq.

June 27, 2024 | Bill Roggio, Janatan Sayeh

Iran-backed Iraqi militia threatens to strike US interests should Israel attack Lebanon

The leader of one of Iraq’s most influential and powerful Iran-backed militias threatened US interests in the Middle East in response to a potential large-scale Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah...

June 18, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Why US terror designation for Iraqi-based terror group matters

Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya is one of many Iranian-backed groups in Iraq that threaten the region

June 4, 2024 | Ahmad Sharawi |

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq increases its drone attacks on Israel

Over the past month, there has been a surge in attacks from Iraq against Israel attributed to the Islamic Resistance. This group consists of several militias backed by Iran, active in both Syria...

May 10, 2024 | Joe Truzman |

Iraqi militia threatens Israel with retaliation over strike in Syria

Iraqi militia Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba’ issued a statement on Thursday threatening to retaliate against the Jewish state following a reported Israeli strike earlier in the day against a...