Iranian Atrocities... Armed Militias Control Iraq
Useful Summary
The Iraqi government finds itself powerless in the face of the significant influence wielded by Iran-backed Iraqi military militias. These militias sometimes make political decisions as if they were the government, which has become unable to disarm these groups or hold accountable those responsible for cross-border attacks.
Furthermore, these militias possess drones and missiles, and the government fears escalation with them to avoid triggering an internal explosion. Meanwhile, the continuation of the status quo entrenches the "dual state" model, where the official government and the militias share political decision-making power.
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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi faces a complex test regarding the future of the state: Can the government exercise its sovereign authority, or will militia influence remain the decisive factor in shaping its domestic and foreign policy trajectory in the coming period?
Factions refuse to disarm. The so-called "Islamic Resistance in Iraq," which encompasses numerous militias linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), declares it will not relinquish its weapons, while Hezbollah brigades call on the government to submit to their authority.
In an effort to embarrass the Prime Minister and thwart his visit to the United States, the militias renewed their expressions of loyalty to Iran and its religious leadership. This served as a message that Tehran’s influence in Iraq remains intact and is guarded by weapons over which the Iraqi state holds no authority. Hezbollah brigades, one of the most fierce militias in Iraq and most loyal to Tehran, issued a warning to the Iraqi government leadership and officials, calling on them to submit to the Resistance.
The funeral ceremonies for Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, extended into Iraq before his burial in Mashhad, where they gained significant popular momentum. This underscores Iranian influence within the Iraqi arena, indicating that a segment of the Iraqi populace owes allegiance to the Iranian religious leadership, viewing it as having spiritual authority over them that demands obedience and the implementation of its teachings.
What is the cause of the current US attacks against Iran?
Iran has used the Strait of Hormuz to blackmail global markets and threaten international navigation. US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike bridges and electricity generation stations in Iran if an agreement was not reached. However, Iran continued this blackmail and threats, prompting US aircraft to launch a series of raids on the early hours of Friday, July 17, targeting several bridges in southern Iran. The choice of bridges as military targets reflects US awareness of their importance in Iran’s transportation network, as they play a pivotal role in the movement of troops and supplies. The US intensified its military operations near the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to weaken Tehran’s ability to disrupt navigation in the Gulf. Iran did not stop at this disruption; it also attacked commercial vessels, resulting in casualties, injuries, and missing crew members.
In response, Iran launched a new wave of reprehensible attacks on Kuwait, in blatant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Observers of the events know that Kuwait and other Gulf states are not parties to the dispute between the United States and Iran.
Several countries allied with the US in the region have been affected. Kuwait remains a target; military personnel were injured, a large number of power generation units were damaged, and a Kuwaiti oil site suffered serious material losses. We should not be surprised if attacks on our country, Kuwait, originate from Iraqi militias allied with Iran. Additionally, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan have been subjected to Iranian attacks.
Iran has then begun signaling the closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, following the Strait of Hormuz, with the assistance of its proxies, the Houthis in Yemen. Iran may be attempting to expand the scope of the conflict to raise the costs for its adversaries. In that scenario, the world could face an unprecedented maritime crisis, disrupting oil markets and international trade.
