Popular Mobilization Forces

Funerals for Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces fighters were held following U.S. and Saudi strikes against Tehran-backed militias. The attacks killed six Iranian advisers, escalating regional tensions.

Iran launched missiles at U.S. forces in Jordan and Iraq, while the U.S. and Saudi Arabia struck Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters. The conflict, involving closures of the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices, heightened risks of renewed large-scale war in the region.

Iraq's government faces heightened pressure as U.S. and Saudi Arabia strike Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq. The PMF, part of Iraq's security forces but often autonomous, have attacked U.S. forces and denied involvement in Saudi oil facility drone attacks. Iraq has given armed groups until September to disarm, but some remain defiant.

Iran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Jordan, which were intercepted, prompting U.S. and Saudi airstrikes in Iraq against Iran-aligned groups. Iran also attacked three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and is acquiring Chinese-made air-defense systems. Jordanian figures called for U.S. troop withdrawal, citing regional risks.

Jordan's air defenses intercepted five Iranian missiles launched toward the country. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia conducted strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq following Iranian missile attacks on American forces in the Middle East, with the U.S. warning of further action if aggression continues.

Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi faces the challenge of balancing relations between the U.S. and Iran amid escalating tensions. The U.S. plans to withdraw 2,000 troops by September, while Iran-backed militias remain active in Iraq. Both nations seek to maintain influence as conflict risks rise.

The Islamic State (ISIS) is actively rebuilding as the United States completes its withdrawal from Iraq by September 30, raising concerns about a security vacuum. Dr. Omar Mohammed warns that ISIS could exploit the gaps left by departing U.S. forces and Iran-backed militias, citing historical patterns similar to the 2014 Mosul takeover. Iraqi security forces face challenges with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which remain armed and tied to Iran, while ISIS fighter numbers in Syria have risen to 10,000 since 2024.

An Iran-backed Iraqi militia, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, announced plans to transfer its weapons to state control, aligning with the new Iraqi government's efforts to integrate militias under state authority. Other groups, including Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, have rejected disarmament, citing sovereignty and resistance to foreign troop presence.

Iran has granted field commanders in Iraq greater autonomy over militias, allowing some groups to operate independently amid war pressures. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on seven commanders from four Iran-backed militias, highlighting tensions as decentralized control escalates attacks on U.S. assets.