Iraqi Groups Count 171 US Air Moves After Coalition Exit

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for Iran-backed militias, stated that US military aircraft have violated Iraqi airspace on 171 occasions since the end of September. The group issued the count on Friday, October 23, covering the period from September 30 through the day of the announcement. The allegations, which were not independently verified, identify both fighter jets and reconnaissance planes as the aircraft involved in the incursions.

The claim arrives as Baghdad attempts to consolidate control over armed groups following the formal conclusion of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition mission in Iraq on September 30. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has set a deadline of June 30, 2027, for the transition of militia weapons to state custody. In an interview with Iraqi state media quoted by Rudaw, Zaidi stated that by that date, "no weapons will remain outside the framework of the state."

Reaction to the disarmament plan has been split among the militias. According to Rudaw, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to the initiative. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate with the government's measures. The IRI has also criticized the Iraqi government for appeasing Washington, citing the reduction of commercial flights and the closure of border crossings with Iran as evidence of US pressure.

US diplomatic representatives in Baghdad have issued concurrent warnings about the security environment. On Saturday, October 24, the US Embassy in Iraq updated the State Department travel advisory, maintaining a recommendation against all travel to the country. The update cited increased threats from the Iranian-backed Houthis, noting that strikes on Saudi Arabian airports and infrastructure could lead to rapid regional escalation. The advisory stated that "the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence and armed conflict."

The State Department specifically identified armed groups inside Iraq as a primary threat. "Terrorists, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, encourage and conduct attacks against US persons and interests in Iraq," the advisory read. It listed drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices as methods of attack, with potential targets including airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities.

These developments coincide with reports of heightened intelligence activity. Rudaw reported on Saturday that US intelligence warned of increased Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats in the Middle East. Citing an Axios report, the outlet said a memorandum dated Friday from US National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that some alleged plots had reached advanced stages. Washington is reportedly reducing staffing at several embassies in response.

In neighboring Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported targeting a gathering center of the Kurdistan Free Life Party, or PJAK. The attack took place in Iran but has implications for Iraq, where Tehran has previously targeted the same opposition groups. Clashes between the IRGC and PJAK's armed wing have intensified over the past week, with Iran using drones and artillery in mountainous regions.

Zaidi continues to assert that his government will end the presence of armed factions operating outside state control. He stated that "Iraq will soon, God willing, be a state free of factions, like other countries in the world, and weapons will be exclusively in the hands of the Iraqi security forces."