US Jets Enter Iraqi Airspace 171 Times, Militias Claim

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for Iran-backed militias, documented 171 flights by United States military aircraft within Iraqi airspace from September 30 to Friday. The group stated that the flights involved fighter jets and reconnaissance planes. These movements occurred after the US-led anti-ISIS coalition formally ended its military mission in Iraq on September 30.

The militias issued the count while tensions rose between Baghdad and armed groups. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq accused the Iraqi government of appeasing Washington due to pressure from the United States. The group also criticized Baghdad for reducing commercial flights and closing border crossings with Iran. The allegations regarding the 171 flights have not been independently verified.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has sought to use the end of the coalition mission to place militia weapons under state control. The disarmament plan is set to take effect by June 2027. Zaidi extended the deadline to June 30, 2027, stating in an interview with Iraqi state media that no weapons would remain outside the framework of the state by that date.

Factions within the militia movement hold differing views on the plan. Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to disarmament. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate with government measures.

The US State Department updated its travel advisory for Iraq on Saturday. The update cited increased threats from the Iranian-backed Houthis and terrorist threats within Iraq, including those posed by Iran-backed militias. The advisory maintained a warning against all travel to Iraq.

The State Department noted that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and critical infrastructure, could lead to wider regional escalation. The department warned that hostilities had the potential to escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area. It also stated that the Iraqi government could not guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence.

The advisory identified specific threats from armed groups inside Iraq. The State Department said that terrorists, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, encourage and conduct attacks against US persons and interests. Potential targets include airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities. The department noted that militias threaten American citizens and international companies using drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices.

US intelligence reported increased Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats and officials in the Middle East. A memorandum dated Friday from US National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that some alleged Iranian plots had reached advanced stages. This report coincides with Washington reducing staffing at several embassies amid concerns about regional escalation.

In Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center of the Kurdistan Free Life Party, an Iranian Kurdish opposition group. Clashes between the guard and the party's armed wing, the Eastern Kurdistan Units, intensified over the last week. Iran used drones and artillery against mountainous areas where the Kurdish fighters operate. The Mehr News Agency described the latest operation as a preemptive strike against members allegedly preparing attacks.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stated in an interview that Iraq will soon be a state free of factions. He said weapons would be exclusively in the hands of Iraqi security forces.