Iraqi Militias Report 171 US Air Raids Since Coalition Exit

United States military activity in Iraq has continued since the formal end of the anti-ISIS coalition mission on September 30, 2026. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization of Iran-backed militias, issued a report on Saturday detailing its observations of American aerial presence.

The group stated that it documented 171 instances of US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft entering Iraqi airspace between September 30 and the previous Friday. These counts were provided by the militias and have not been independently verified by Baghdad or Washington.

The accusations coincide with a diplomatic friction between the Iraqi government and armed factions over the disarmament timeline. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi extended the deadline for bringing militia weapons under state control to June 30, 2027. In an interview with Iraqi state media, Zaidi declared that no weapons would remain outside the framework of the state by that date.

Opinions among the militias remain divided on the policy. According to reports from Rudaw, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have rejected the disarmament initiative. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada expressed willingness to cooperate with government measures to consolidate control over armed forces.

The militias also criticized Baghdad for what they described as appeasing Washington. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq expressed dissatisfaction with the reduction of commercial flights and the closure of border crossings with Iran, actions it attributed to US pressure.

Simultaneously, the US State Department updated its travel advisory for Iraq on Saturday, citing increased regional threats. The advisory warned of potential attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis and noted that hostilities could escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area. It specifically identified ISIS and Iran-aligned militias as actors who encourage and conduct attacks against US persons and interests, using drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices.

US intelligence officials have also signaled heightened concerns regarding Iranian operations. A memorandum from National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, dated Friday, warned that Iranian plots to assassinate American diplomats and officials had reached advanced stages. Washington has responded by reducing staffing at several embassies.

In Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported targeting a gathering center for the Kurdistan Free Life Party on Saturday. Clashes between the IRGC and the party's armed wing have intensified over the last week, with Iran employing drones and artillery in mountainous regions near the Iraqi border.