Iraq Under Fire as Iran-Backed Militias Target Western Forces

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani faces escalating criticism over his government’s inability to curb attacks by pro-Iranian militias against American, French, Italian, and Kurdish military personnel and facilities throughout the country.

The situation deteriorated dramatically on Saturday when the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad urged all American citizens in Iraq to “leave immediately,” citing repeated attacks by “Iran-aligned terrorist militias” on the International Zone in central Baghdad. This urgent advisory followed a missile strike on a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound early Saturday.

A State Department spokesperson condemned the attacks, telling Fox News Digital, “The United States strongly condemns attacks by Iran and Iran-backed terrorist militias against U.S. diplomatic personnel and facilities, civilian targets and energy infrastructure in Iraq, particularly in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.”

The violence has taken a deadly turn. On Friday, a French soldier was killed and six others were injured during intensified attacks on international anti-jihadi coalition forces in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. Colonel Francois-Xavier de la Chesnais identified the fallen soldier as Arnaud Frion, who was killed by an Iranian-designed Shahed drone.

According to Kurdish news outlet Rudaw, the Kurdistan Region was hit with seven explosive-laden drones early Saturday as part of ongoing attacks targeting the U.S. consulate in Erbil and other military and civilian sites. Since the beginning of U.S. Operation Epic Fury, the region has reportedly endured more than 300 drone and missile attacks, resulting in seven deaths and 35 injuries.

A Kurdish official, speaking anonymously, placed blame squarely on al-Sudani’s administration, telling Fox News Digital that the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq “are paid and armed by the Iraqi government. They are on the Iraqi payroll.” The official added that “many of these leaders [from the PMF] are part of al-Sudani’s government and his very coalition.”

Iraq’s Embassy in Washington strongly rejected these allegations, stating, “We would like to unequivocally confirm that the allegations claiming the Prime Minister granted a ‘green light’ to any armed group to target U.S. or Western interests are completely false.” The embassy insisted that the Iraqi government “has repeatedly emphasized its firm rejection of any attacks on diplomatic missions or foreign interests.”

The embassy added that al-Sudani has “issued several statements condemning such acts, describing them as terrorist activities, and has directed the relevant authorities to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice.”

Questions about al-Sudani’s loyalties intensified after he congratulated Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the assassinated Ali Khamenei. In his statement, al-Sudani expressed “confidence in the ability of the new leadership in the Islamic Republic of Iran to manage this sensitive stage, and continue to strengthen the unity of the Iranian people in facing the current challenges.”

When questioned about this congratulatory message, the Iraqi Embassy characterized it as “standard diplomatic practices carried out by many countries, including several Gulf states,” noting that Iraq “maintains diplomatic relations with neighboring countries, including Iran, while simultaneously ensuring balanced relations with all its regional and international partners.”

According to Long War Journal, airstrikes likely conducted by the U.S. as part of joint U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran have continued targeting Iran-backed Iraqi militias. The Popular Mobilization Forces claimed to the Iraqi News Agency that American forces have conducted 32 airstrikes against PMF headquarters since February 28.

The Kurdish official called on the Trump administration to “demand that Iraq’s government stop paying and arming the PMF and target their banking system that finances the PMF,” adding that al-Sudani’s government “has been unwilling to confront them.”

Entifadh Qanbar, a former spokesman for Iraq’s deputy prime minister, described the PMF as effectively “the Iraqi branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.” He argued that dismantling the PMF organization is necessary, stating, “As long as the PMF exists, militias operating under its umbrella will continue to attack U.S. forces and regional targets.”

The escalating violence highlights the complex challenges facing Iraq’s sovereignty as it navigates relationships with both the United States and Iran while attempting to maintain stability in an increasingly volatile region.