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Iraq militia disarmament
Where things stand
After a US-Saudi air strike on Popular Mobilisation Forces positions early Wednesday, Tehran calls the attack a strategic miscalculation, while Iraq's Al Zaidi is reported to face an impossible task in disarming Iran-backed militias.
Iraq is under pressure to bring Iran-backed armed groups, organised in the Popular Mobilisation Forces, under state control. The effort sets Iraqi officials charged with disarmament against militias aligned with Tehran, with the United States and Saudi Arabia acting militarily against militia positions and Iran objecting.
Timeline in detail
Sunday, 2 August 2026 · GeopoliticsTehran condemns US-Saudi strike on militia positions in Iraq
The Tehran Times said a joint US-Saudi air attack on Popular Mobilisation Forces positions in Iraq, launched in the early hours of Wednesday, was a strategic miscalculation rather than a display of strength. The National reported separately that Iraq's Al Zaidi faces an "impossible" task in disarming Iran-backed militias.