Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said that his government thwarted 29 attempted missile and drone attacks by Iran-aligned armed groups during the height of the war between Israel and Iran.
In an interview with the Associated Press published Tuesday, al-Sudani said the attacks were aimed at Israel and US military bases inside Iraq.
“These operations were neutralized by Iraqi government security measures,” he said, though declined to elaborate on details.
“We know that the Israeli government had a policy — and still does — of expanding the war in the region. Therefore, we made sure not to give any justification to any party to target Iraq.”
The prime minister said his government engaged in direct communication with Iranian leaders during the crisis, encouraging de-escalation. “We reached out to leaders in Iran to urge them toward calm and to make room for dialogue and a return to negotiations,” al-Sudani said.
Since the 2003 US invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, numerous militias have emerged in Iraq, many with ties to Iran. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023 and the recent Israel-Iran escalation, including US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the pro-Iran factions have periodically targeted US bases in Iraq.
Groups within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of mostly Shia armed groups originally formed to fight the Islamic State and then integrated into Iraq's security forces, have been among those involved.
Al-Sudani acknowledged that the continued presence of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition has provided a “justification” for such groups to remain armed. The withdrawal process began in 2023, but is not yet complete.
“When the coalition withdrawal is complete, there will be no need or justification for any group to carry weapons outside the scope of the state,” he said.
Future of Popular Mobilization Forces
A focal point of US-Iraqi tensions lies in the future of the PMF. Though nominally under Iraqi military command since 2016, many PMF units maintain strong ties to Iran and operate with broad autonomy.
A new bill in Iraq’s parliament is aimed at formalizing the PMF’s status within the security apparatus, a move that has drawn criticism from Washington. The US State Department recently warned the legislation “would institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq’s sovereignty.”
Al-Sudani, however, defended the initiative, saying that it is part of an effort to ensure that arms are controlled by Baghdad. “Security agencies must operate under laws and be subject to them and be held accountable,” he said.
Kurdish region attacks
In recent weeks, a series of drone attacks targeted oil facilities in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, with Kurdish regional authorities blaming groups in the PMF. Baghdad has denied it, but has not publicly named any perpetrators.
Al-Sudani called the attacks a “terrorist act” and said his government is working with Kurdish authorities and coalition forces to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
