Iraq Still Discussing Future Of Iraqi Resistance Factions

What to do about the pro-Iran Iraqi Islamic Resistance is still a hot topic in Baghdad. This discussion is motivated by fears of what the new Trump administration will do to Iraq for its ties to Iran.

 

The major discussions are about how to get the Resistance to follow government directions. Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani has talked about them being integrated into the Hashd which they already are. Another suggestion is that they join the military or even be disarmed.

 

The Resistance are various pro-Iran Hashd groups who are armed, funded and take direction from Iran. They went to fight for Assad in Syria and conducted attacks upon U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.

 

Iran’s Quds Force commander General Qaani visited Baghdad at the start of the year to talk with government officials about the matter. Reportedly he pushed for some type of integration into the government forces so that the pro-Iran factions could maintain their weapons and influence.

 

Some groups have already rejected these movies. Harakat al-Nujaba not only said it would not give up its weapons but threatened to attack the Ain al-Assad airbase in Anbar unless the U.S. withdrew from the country. Ansar Allah also refused to disarm.

 

None of these plans would address the issue of making the Resistance subservient to the government. As Iraq’s President Abdul Latif al-Rashid pointed out the pro-Iran groups are already part of the Hashd and officially members of the security forces. Talk about integration is just changing the names of these fighters. Disbandment or disarming are the only acts that would truly end the power of these groups and that is unlikely to happen given their influence and the fact that Iran opposes those moves.

 

Finally, it’s unclear what approach the new Trump administration will take to Iraq which will ultimately decide how it deals with the Resistance.

 

SOURCES

 

Al Aalem, “Ahead of Al-Sudani’s visit, Iran sends “secret” messages to faction leaders in Iraq,” 1/6/25

- “The factions and Sudani … Who determines whose fate?” 1/8/25

- “Has the Framework finally decided to dissolve the factions?” 1/23/25

- “New refusal for factions to lay down their weapons .. Will Al-Sudani be able to convince them?” 1/27/25

 

Asharq Al-Awsat, “Iraqi President to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iran’s Influence Is Exaggerated, Factions Are Under Control,” 1/24/25

 

Azhari, Timour, “Iraq wants Iran-backed factions to lay down weapons, foreign minister says,” Reuters, 1/16/25

 

Bas News, “Iran Proposes Hashd al-Shaabi Integration Plan Amid Pressure,” 1/7/25

- “Pro-Iran Movement in Iraq Rejects Disarmament,” 1/19/25

 

Al Mada, “After the Iranian Leader’s Speech … The Framework Considers Merging Militias with the Popular Mobilization Forces," 1/12/25

- “Factions threaten Ain al-Assad due to the possibility of Americans staying longer in Iraq,” 1/27/25

- “The government insists on neutralizing the factions and the latter refuse to hand over weapons except at the direct request of Sistine," 1/21/25

- “Al-Ittihar warns for the first time against striking factions … and evacuating the headquarters of Al-Qaim and Al-Jurf,” 1/5/25

- “Trump’s Horror … The government violates the Framework and negotiates to merge factions and Al-Nujaba backs down,” 1/18/25

 

Al Rafidain, "Monte Carlo Radio: Agreement between Al-Sudani's government and Iran on keeping the Popular Mobilization Forces," 1/15/25

 

Shafaq News, “Iraq’s Resistance factions defy push for integration into state army,” 1/23/25