NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

This is a clear illustration that Iraq is effectively under the control of Iran-backed militias. Instead of enforcing law and protecting its borders, the Iraqi state allows armed factions to operate freely, launch attacks, and destabilize the region. Gulf nations issuing formal warnings highlight Baghdad’s failure to act as a sovereign power.

The Iranian regime is pulling the strings, using these militias as proxy forces to project power across Iraq and beyond. This is not a defensive strategy it is aggressive domination, turning Iraq into a platform for regional conflict while leaving ordinary Iraqis to bear the consequences.

And the ideological cover for these militias using sectarian and religious narratives does nothing to hide the reality: they are foreign-controlled armed groups, destabilizing Iraq, undermining governance, and dragging the country into wars that serve Tehran, not the Iraqi people. Instead of building stability, Iraq is being weaponized as a tool of Iranian expansion.

Article:

On March 28, 2026, several Gulf countries issued a joint warning about Iran-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory, stating that these groups are now a major threat to regional security. Officials noted that the militias are not confined to Iraq they are involved in plots, attacks, and sleeper cells across multiple countries, including coordinated operations that could destabilize the wider Middle East.

These warnings specifically highlighted the role of militias such as Kataib Hezbollah, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, and other PMF factions, which have long-standing ties to Tehran. The Gulf states stressed that Iraq must take urgent action to control these groups or face escalating tensions with neighboring nations. Analysts also noted that the militias’ cross-border activities indicate that Iraq is being used as a launchpad for Iran’s regional ambitions, rather than acting as an independent sovereign state.

The warning comes amid a surge in attacks by these militias against foreign-linked infrastructure and personnel, further destabilizing Iraq internally and projecting instability across the region. This signals a dangerous escalation, showing how deeply Iran’s influence penetrates Iraqi security and decision-making.