Iraq's Ali al-Zaidi Vows to Curb 600 Militia Attacks as U.S. Offers Backing
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 15
Iraq's Ali al-Zaidi Vows to Curb 600 Militia Attacks as U.S. Offers Backing
5 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 15
Ali al-Zaidi took office Thursday and used his inaugural address to promise that the Iraqi state would hold a monopoly on force, directly targeting Iran-backed militias operating inside Iraq.
More than 600 attacks on U.S. installations in Iraq have been attributed to those groups since the Iran war began, and the Justice Department on Friday announced the arrest of a Kata'ib Hezbollah commander tied to attacks on U.S. targets in Europe.
Washington is signaling support and pressure at once: Donald Trump invited al-Zaidi to visit, envoy Tom Barrack pledged close cooperation, and the U.S. this month imposed new sanctions on Iraqi officials and militia leaders.
Iraqi and regional officials say dismantling the militias would take time and could provoke a local conflict, while analysts expect many of the groups to remain embedded in the Iraqi state because Iran sees Iraq as its most important regional foothold.
Can a businessman with pro-Iran ministers truly disarm the powerful militias controlling Iraq?
Is Trump trading Taiwanese security for China's help in ending the costly war with Iran?
Iraq’s 167-Day Government Deadlock: Ali al-Zaidi’s Premiership and the U.S.-Iran Struggle for Influence
Overview
In November 2025, Iraq appointed Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman with no political background, as Prime Minister after months of political deadlock and strong international pressure. His selection was a compromise between Iran-aligned groups and U.S. demands for Iraq to distance itself from Iran. Zaidi faces the tough task of curbing the influence of Iran-backed militias, which have built powerful economic and political networks outside state control. The U.S. is using financial leverage, including control over Iraqi funds, to push for action against these militias. Zaidi must balance internal reforms and external pressures to strengthen Iraq’s sovereignty and stability.