Iraqi groups say 171 US jets entered airspace after coalition left
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims US aircraft breached its airspace 171 times between September 30 and October 23 as the government pushes for disarmament by 2027.
By David Almasi ·
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, stated on Friday that it recorded 171 instances of US fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft entering Iraqi airspace. The group said these flights occurred between September 30 and October 23. The allegations have not been independently verified.
The accusations follow the formal end of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition’s military mission in Iraq on September 30. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used the transition period to push for placing militia weapons under state control. The disarmament plan is scheduled to take full effect by June 30, 2027.
Zaidi told Iraqi state media, as quoted by Rudaw, that no weapons will remain outside the framework of the state by that deadline. He added that Iraq will soon be a state free of factions, with weapons exclusively in the hands of the Iraqi security forces. The initiative has faced mixed reactions from armed groups.
Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have remained opposed to the disarmament effort. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate with government measures. The IRI also accused the Baghdad government of appeasing Washington by reducing commercial flights and closing border crossings with Iran.
The State Department issued an updated travel advisory for Iraq on Saturday. The warning cited increased threats from the Iranian-backed Houthis and terrorist groups inside Iraq. It noted that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia could lead to wider regional escalation. The advisory stated that the Iraqi government cannot guarantee the safety of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence.
The advisory specifically highlighted threats from armed groups inside Iraq. It noted that terrorists, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, conduct attacks against US persons and interests. Potential targets include airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities. The State Department warned that militias use drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices.
US National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton sent a memorandum to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday. The document warned that some alleged Iranian plots to assassinate American diplomats had reached advanced stages. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday that it targeted a gathering center belonging to the Kurdistan Free Life Party. The attack took place in Iran but could have implications for Iraq, where Tehran has previously targeted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups.
