U.S. Designates Four Militias as Terrorist Organizations Amid Iran Tensions

Washington, D.C. — The United States has officially designated four Iran-backed militia groups operating in Iraq as foreign terrorist organizations, intensifying its ongoing efforts against what it terms the ‘Axis of Resistance.’

On Wednesday, Secretary of State announced this decision, which involves the groups Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali. These groups were previously labeled ‘specially designated global terrorists’ by the Department of Treasury in 2023.

According to the State Department, these militias have been linked to numerous attacks against the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and bases housing U.S. and Coalition forces. “Iran-aligned militia groups have conducted attacks… typically using front names or proxy groups to obfuscate their involvement,” the Secretary stated.

All four designated groups are believed to be part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella organization that gained traction following the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023. The IRI is associated with hundreds of attacks across Iraq, Syria, and Jordan and was implicated in the death of three U.S. service members during a drone strike in Jordan earlier this year.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, an expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, remarked, “The Trump administration broke the taboo during term one when it proved it could effectively name, shame, and punish Iran-backed militias without plunging Iraq into civil war. The current administration is ramping up this campaign of designations against agents of influence and terror in Iraq.”

The designated groups also operate within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of largely Shia groups originally formed to counter ISIS. While part of the PMF, these militias maintain affiliations and support from Iran.

Ben Taleblu emphasized that Tehran leverages these militias to maintain significant control in Iraq. “Tehran relies on these militias to literally have a state within a state in Iraq,” he added.

The State Department aims for these designations to further isolate these groups by denying them access to the U.S. financial system and resources vital for their operations. Such measures align with Washington’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Iran, as articulated by U.S. officials.

As the geopolitical landscape evolves, these recent designations represent a strategic tool in America’s efforts to mitigate Iran’s regional influence.