Baghdad, April 8 (V7N) – Several influential Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq are reportedly ready to disarm for the first time, in an effort to prevent an escalating conflict with the U.S. This decision comes after a series of private warnings from U.S. officials to the Iraqi government, urging action to disband militias operating in the country, sources told Reuters.

The move to de-escalate tensions follows talks between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and militia leaders. Izzat al-Shahbndar, a senior Shi'ite Muslim politician close to Iraq's governing alliance, confirmed to Reuters that discussions are "very advanced," and the groups appear willing to comply with U.S. demands for disarmament. Shahbndar added that the factions are aware of the risks posed by U.S. airstrikes, stating that they were not acting “stubbornly” and were willing to make changes to avoid conflict.

The militias, including groups such as Kataib Hezbollah, Nujabaa, Kataib Sayyed al-Shuhada, and Ansarullah al-Awfiyaa, are part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of about 10 hardline Shi'ite armed factions that collectively command around 50,000 fighters and possess long-range missiles and anti-aircraft weapons. These groups have become a significant force in Iraq, having emerged after the 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, with Iranian financial and military support. Over the past 18 months, they have been involved in missile and drone attacks on U.S. and Israeli forces in Iraq and Syria, especially following the eruption of conflict in Gaza.

One of the militia commanders, who spoke to Reuters anonymously, stated that their primary backer, Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), had approved of the decision to de-escalate in order to avoid further conflict with the United States and Israel. "Trump is ready to take the war with us to worse levels, we know that, and we want to avoid such a bad scenario," said a commander from Kataib Hezbollah, the most powerful Shi'ite militia in Iraq.

Iraqi officials have confirmed that the militias are already taking steps to reduce their visibility. Some groups have begun evacuating their headquarters and withdrawing from major cities like Mosul and Anbar to avoid being targeted by U.S. airstrikes. In response, the U.S. State Department continues to push Baghdad to control the militias, emphasizing that these groups must report to Iraq’s commander-in-chief, not Iran.

Farhad Alaaeldin, an adviser to Prime Minister Sudani, told Reuters that the Iraqi government is committed to ensuring all weapons in Iraq are under state control. He emphasized that the government is engaging in "constructive dialogue with various national actors" to reach a solution that integrates the militias into the state apparatus. One of the proposed solutions includes turning some of the militias into political parties or integrating them into the Iraqi armed forces.

The U.S. has urged Iraq to act decisively against these groups, with senior officials warning of possible airstrikes if the militias continue their activities. This situation is particularly delicate as it follows months of growing tensions, especially after the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, which saw some of these Iraqi militias launching drone and rocket attacks against Israel in solidarity with Hamas.

The Iranian-backed militias are part of Iran’s broader “Axis of Resistance,” a network of proxy forces in the region designed to oppose U.S. and Israeli influence. However, this network has faced significant challenges recently, with the Israeli military engaging with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, while U.S. forces have targeted Houthi rebels in Yemen. The fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, another key Iranian ally, has further strained Tehran’s influence in the region.

Despite the Iraqi government's efforts to rein in the militias, skepticism remains about whether any disarmament will be sustained. U.S. officials have warned that while the militias have occasionally stopped their attacks due to pressure, any disarmament could be temporary.

The outcome of these talks remains uncertain, but this marks the first time that the militias have indicated a willingness to give ground to long-standing U.S. demands for demilitarization. Whether the disarmament process will be successful will depend on the political will within Iraq and the balance of power between the U.S. and Iran.

(Reporting by Reuters)

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