NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

This decision exposes the shocking collapse of Iraqi state authority. By formally allowing Iran-backed militias to act independently, Baghdad has abdicated its responsibility to maintain law and order, turning the state’s security apparatus into a facade. Iraq is no longer the master of its own territory; it is a puppet stage for armed groups loyal to Tehran.

The Iranian regime is clearly exploiting this situation. By empowering militias, Iraq’s government is effectively handing Iran control of military decisions inside Iraq, letting proxy forces dictate security, escalate conflicts, and destabilize regions. This is not sovereignty it is state-sanctioned lawlessness under foreign influence.

And the ideological rhetoric these militias use sectarian and religious justification—is pure deception. Behind their claims of defending faith or national honor lies a network of armed actors undermining Iraqi governance, threatening civilians, and dragging the country further into chaos. Iraq is being weaponized by foreign proxies while the government remains powerless or complicit.

Article:

On March 24, 2026, Iraq’s National Security Council formally granted the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) a coalition of mostly Iran-aligned militias—the authority to respond with force to attacks on their positions. This unprecedented move effectively legitimizes autonomous military operations by armed groups within Iraq and allows them to retaliate independently of the Iraqi state’s control.

Critics argue this decision marks a dangerous precedent, as it outsources Iraq’s national security to militias with foreign allegiances, mainly to Iran. Analysts note that the move could embolden these armed groups to carry out operations with little oversight, further eroding Baghdad’s sovereignty and making Iraq a de facto battlefield for proxy conflicts. The PMF, already implicated in attacks against coalition forces and Kurdish regions, now operates with quasi-legal authority, increasing the risk of escalation and civilian casualties.

This authorization comes amid repeated calls from the international community for Iraq to regain control over militia activities, but the government’s decision to empower them highlights the depth of foreign influence and internal weakness in state governance.