Kata'ib Hezbollah

June 3, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Several Iranian-backed militias in Iraq say they accept state control of weapons

On June 3 in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi met with delegations from Asaib Ahl al Haq and Kataib Imam Ali, two Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. He thanked the group’s leadership for supporting...

June 3, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Voluntary Militia Disarmament in Iraq Sounds Too Good to Be True, and It Likely Is

Promises from Iran-backed militias in Iraq can never be taken at face value. Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), an Iran-backed militia in Iraq designated by Washington as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)...

May 20, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Saudi Arabia and UAE say drone attacks were launched from Iraq

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said that recent drone attacks against their countries originated from Iraq. “The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday that six drones had been launched...

May 19, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Iraq Forms a New Government Without Resolving Cabinet Role of Iran-Backed Militias

After six months of internal discord against the background of competing foreign interests, Iraq has formed its new government, ending the stasis that followed the November 2025 election. Prime Minister...

May 1, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US offers rewards for 3 Iraqi militia leaders

On April 27, the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program offered a $10 million reward for information on Haydar Muzhir Malak al Saidi, the leader of Harakat Ansar Allah al Awfiya,...

April 28, 2026 | Daniel Swift, Susan Soh

Iranian-Linked Militias in Iraq Threaten U.S. Dollar Flows to the Baghdad Government

The United States has been flying cash — around $400-$500 million at a time — to Baghdad for decades. However, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the U.S. Treasury had partially suspended...

April 21, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Operation Economic Fury Turns Its Attention to Iraq

After weathering weeks of attacks from Iran-backed militias in Iraq, the United States designated seven leaders of these terror groups on April 17, asserting, “These militias operate with near impunity,...

April 20, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

US Treasury designates 7 Iran-backed Iraqi militia commanders as terrorists

The US Treasury Department designated seven commanders from four US-designated Iraqi terror groups as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) on April 17. The leaders come from...

April 14, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iraq focuses on political appointees, economic challenges amid Iran ceasefire

On April 14, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani met with French Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Durrel. “Mr. Al-Sudani emphasized the necessity for major powers to exert utmost efforts to curb escalation...

April 7, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Iraq’s Emboldened Terror Groups

Shelly Kittleson, an American journalist, was kidnapped off the streets of Baghdad on March 31 and is now a bargaining chip for the militia that took her. It’s a tragedy on replay....

April 1, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad by Iranian proxy

American journalist Shelley Kittleson was kidnapped by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia backed by Iran and designated by the US as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), on March 31 in downtown...

March 25, 2026 | Bridget Toomey, Ahmad Sharawi

Iraqi Security Institutions: The Latest Victims of Tehran’s Iraqi Proxies

The Iraqi government may not care about protecting Americans from Tehran’s militias, but it should certainly care about protecting its own citizens. Amidst bombardments against American assets in...

March 24, 2026 | Bridget Toomey, Ahmad Sharawi

Iran’s Iraqi Militias Are Coming for US Troops

The United States must act to punish and, by extension, deter militia attacks on US bases in Iraq.

March 20, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Strikes continue hitting Iran-backed Iraqi militias, Kataib Hezbollah declares temporary US embassy ceasefire

Airstrikes, likely conducted by the United States as part of the US-Israeli operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies, have continued hitting Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Many of...

March 19, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian-backed militias escalate attacks in Iraq, send mixed signals on next steps

Iranian-backed militias have continued to carry out dozens of attacks in Iraq over the past week, including targeting the US Embassy in Baghdad and the United Arab Emirates consulate in...

March 15, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

How Iraq Is the New Frontline of the Iran War

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are seeking to tie down US forces in the Middle East.

March 13, 2026 | Bill Roggio, Bridget Toomey

Iran-backed Iraqi militias claim downing of US aircraft, US says not due to ‘hostile fire’

Iraqi militias loyal to the Iranian regime claimed that they shot down a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over western Iraq on March 12. The US military has confirmed that the tanker crashed but stated...

March 13, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Dozens of airstrikes target Iran-backed militias across Iraq

Airstrikes, likely conducted by the US as part of the US-Israeli operation against the Islamic Republic, have continued targeting Iran-backed Iraqi militias. On March 12, the Popular Mobilization Forces...

March 8, 2026 | Edmund Fitton-Brown, Bridget Toomey

Action on Another Front: Strikes on Pro-Tehran Militias in Iraq

Air strikes, likely conducted as part of American-Israeli operations, are hitting Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq, but no one is taking credit. The militias themselves claim to have launched dozens...

March 6, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran’s ‘Hezbollah Blueprint’ To Survive the U.S. Military’s Massive Air War

The 12-Country Offensive: Why Iran is Attacking Oman and Azerbaijan to Sabotage Operation Epic Fury ...