IRI Blames US for 171 Flights Since Mission End

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have documented 171 violations of their airspace by US fighter jets and reconnaissance planes since September 30. The count extends through Friday, according to a statement from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The group describes itself as an umbrella organization for several armed factions in the country.

The allegations were not independently verified. The statement emerged amid rising tensions between Baghdad and the militias. These groups continue to support Iran while Washington and the Iraqi government push for disarmament. The IRI also accused the Iraqi government of appeasing the United States under pressure from Washington.

The IRI expressed frustration over Baghdad's recent actions. The government has reduced commercial flights and closed border crossings with Iran. The militias view these moves as concessions to American demands for tighter control over the region's security landscape.

The accusations follow the formal end of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition's military mission in Iraq on September 30. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used this transition to advance a plan to bring militia weapons under state control. The initiative is scheduled to take effect by June 2027, though reactions from armed factions remain divided.

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have rejected the disarmament initiative. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate with government measures. Zaidi extended the deadline for full compliance to June 30, 2027.

In an interview with Iraqi state media, Zaidi stated that no weapons will remain outside the state's framework by that date. He added that Iraq will soon be a state free of factions, with weapons exclusively in the hands of Iraqi security forces. The plan aims to consolidate government authority over armed groups that have operated independently for years.

The US State Department issued an updated travel advisory on Saturday. The advisory maintained the existing warning against all travel to Iraq. It cited threats from Iranian-backed Houthis and terrorist groups, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, that target US persons and interests.

The advisory noted that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia could lead to wider regional escalation. It warned that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence. Specific threats include drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices targeting airports, energy infrastructure, and diplomatic facilities.