Iraqi sources indicated that Al-Sudani finds himself in a difficult position following a recent meeting with a delegation led by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken reportedly called on him to take swift and decisive action against these militias. The primary demand, according to these sources, is for the Iraqi government to pass a resolution mandating the immediate disbandment of the militias and to target any group refusing to surrender its weapons to the state. On this issue, the US has emphasized zero tolerance for flexibility.
Blinken's secret visit to Baghdad last Friday, during which he urged Iraq to adopt hardline measures against pro-Iranian militias, reportedly came just days after the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. This push to dismantle the militias is part of a broader effort to weaken Iran's strategy, which relies heavily on terrorist organizations across different regions to consolidate its influence.
However, Al-Arab clarified that dismantling these militias would require a fatwa from Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shiite cleric. Such a fatwa seems unlikely, given recent foreign engagements with al-Sistani, including meetings with UN representatives.
The report noted that UN representative Mohammed Al-Hassan held discussions with al-Sistani about potential steps to distance Iraq from conflicts and crises that could impact the country. Al-Hassan emphasized the precarious state of the region and expressed hope that Iraq's leadership could navigate the nation away from the entanglements of the broader regional conflict.
Iraqi sources revealed that some militias were informed of the US position and have begun preparing statements signaling their intent to distance themselves from Iran. These declarations reportedly underscore their commitment to Iraq's official policy of non-intervention in Syria. Nonetheless, fully dismantling these militias or relinquishing their weaponry remains a challenging prospect, even if it could shield them from potential strikes by Israel or the US.
It's worth noting that while US pressure has intensified, the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have refrained from launching drones toward Israel in recent weeks.
