Trump envoy says 2026 to mark end of militias in Iraq
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Iraq, Mark Savaya, said in his New Year message that Washington plans to end the presence of militia groups in Iraq in 2026. The statement comes amid growing US pressure on Baghdad to disarm Iran-aligned armed groups.
Savaya said in his statement that the US is “working to make 2026 the year that marks the end of” 18 things in Iraq, including militias, foreign interference, uncontrolled weapons, and foreign interference.
“Iraq and its flag will remain high and flying proudly, a source of pride for all Iraqis,” he added. “And we are JUST GETTING STARTED.”
A US State Department official told Rudaw on Wednesday that Washington wants Iran-backed groups excluded from Iraq’s next government, as Baghdad moves to form a new administration amid intensified US pressure to curb Iranian influence.
“Members of those Iran-backed militias should have no place in Iraq’s government, not least because they do not work for Iraq or the Iraqi people,” the official said, adding that “they undermine Iraq’s sovereignty, threaten Americans and Iraqis, and pilfer Iraq's resources for Iran.”
Washington has increased pressure on Baghdad to reduce Tehran’s influence and limit the role of Iran-backed armed groups. The United States is reportedly urging Iraq to dissolve all armed factions, including those formally integrated into state structures such as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Several political wings of armed factions won seats in the November parliamentary elections. The Sadiqoon Bloc, affiliated with the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) armed group - designated a terrorist organization by the US - secured 27 of the 329 parliamentary seats. Sadiqoon member Adnan Faihan was elected first deputy speaker of parliament on Monday during the legislature’s first session of its sixth term.
Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan told Rudaw on Wednesday that AAH, Kata’ib Imam Ali, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya have committed to restricting weapons to the hands of the government.
However, some groups have refused to lay down arms. Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful pro-Iran militia designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, is among those publicly rejecting disarmament.
Savaya said in his statement that the US is “working to make 2026 the year that marks the end of” 18 things in Iraq, including militias, foreign interference, uncontrolled weapons, and foreign interference.
“Iraq and its flag will remain high and flying proudly, a source of pride for all Iraqis,” he added. “And we are JUST GETTING STARTED.”
A US State Department official told Rudaw on Wednesday that Washington wants Iran-backed groups excluded from Iraq’s next government, as Baghdad moves to form a new administration amid intensified US pressure to curb Iranian influence.
“Members of those Iran-backed militias should have no place in Iraq’s government, not least because they do not work for Iraq or the Iraqi people,” the official said, adding that “they undermine Iraq’s sovereignty, threaten Americans and Iraqis, and pilfer Iraq's resources for Iran.”
Washington has increased pressure on Baghdad to reduce Tehran’s influence and limit the role of Iran-backed armed groups. The United States is reportedly urging Iraq to dissolve all armed factions, including those formally integrated into state structures such as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Several political wings of armed factions won seats in the November parliamentary elections. The Sadiqoon Bloc, affiliated with the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) armed group - designated a terrorist organization by the US - secured 27 of the 329 parliamentary seats. Sadiqoon member Adnan Faihan was elected first deputy speaker of parliament on Monday during the legislature’s first session of its sixth term.
Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan told Rudaw on Wednesday that AAH, Kata’ib Imam Ali, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya have committed to restricting weapons to the hands of the government.
However, some groups have refused to lay down arms. Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful pro-Iran militia designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, is among those publicly rejecting disarmament.