Zaidi and Hegseth discuss Iraq security cooperation by phone
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 6
Zaidi and Hegseth discuss Iraq security cooperation by phone
9 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 6
Zaidi's office said they discussed strengthening Iraqi armed forces as a senior US official said American facilities in Iraq have faced more than 600 attacks since the war began.
Washington wants the incoming prime minister to move quickly against Iran-aligned militias by ending state financial and political backing and declaring they are not part of Iraq's state.
Attacks have eased since a temporary US-Iran ceasefire last month, after militia strikes and US pressure, including suspending dollar shipments to Iraq for oil sales, deepened tensions with Baghdad.
With its oil economy crippled, can Iraq survive being the financial battleground between Washington and Tehran?
Can a leader whose bank was sanctioned for militia financing be trusted to dismantle those very same groups?
Iraq’s 2026 Security Reset: Al-Zaidi’s Leadership and the Reactivation of U.S. Military Training Programs
Overview
In early May 2026, Iraq’s newly appointed Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman chosen as a compromise candidate after U.S. opposition to his predecessor, engaged in a key diplomatic call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. This led to the reactivation of U.S.-led military training programs aimed at strengthening Iraq’s armed forces, reducing reliance on Iran-backed militias, and enhancing border security. However, these efforts face strong opposition from pro-Iran factions embedded in Iraq’s political system, complicating government formation. Al-Zaidi must navigate economic crisis pressures and balance U.S.-Iran rivalries, with the success of this security reset hinging on his ability to build broad domestic support and secure parliamentary approval.