Pro-Iran Factions in Iraq Dismiss Blinken’s Message to Tehran

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows the Islamic republic's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani addressing a joint press conference after their meeting in Tehran on November 6, 2023. (Photo by Iranian Presidency / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows the Islamic republic's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani addressing a joint press conference after their meeting in Tehran on November 6, 2023. (Photo by Iranian Presidency / AFP)
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Pro-Iran Factions in Iraq Dismiss Blinken’s Message to Tehran

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows the Islamic republic's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani addressing a joint press conference after their meeting in Tehran on November 6, 2023. (Photo by Iranian Presidency / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows the Islamic republic's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani addressing a joint press conference after their meeting in Tehran on November 6, 2023. (Photo by Iranian Presidency / AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Baghdad failed in deterring pro-Iran factions from ceasing their attacks on American forces in Iraq.

Shortly after his visit, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani headed to Iran. The attacks did not stop, meaning Blinken’s message to the Iranians – delivered by Sudani – appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

Blinken was hoping that the factions would cease attacking American troops and in return, the United States would cease targeting Iran.

Less than 24 hours after Sudani returned from Tehran militants targeted the US military base in Erbil, in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, overnight and again Tuesday morning. The attack caused no injuries to personnel or damage to the infrastructure, a US defense official said.

The “Islamic Resistance”, an umbrella organization of Iraqi militant groups backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying their drones hit their target without giving any further details.

The overnight attack on Erbil airbase near the city’s commercial airport was a multi-drone attack. Tuesday morning's attack was with a single drone, said the US defense official, who was not authorized to discuss the strikes and spoke on condition of anonymity. Commercial flights were briefly suspended.

The strikes are part of an ongoing string of attacks in recent weeks by the Iran-backed factions on US bases in Iraq and Syria, in light of Washington’s support for Israel's war on Hamas.

The attacks bring the total number of strikes on US and coalition facilities in Iraq and Syria to at least 40 since Oct. 17.

The Islamic Resistance also claimed responsibility for other attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria on Tuesday, including a drone attack on Al-Harir in Erbil province, and on the Green Village base in eastern Syria. The US defense official said there were no reports of attacks at Al-Harir.

The attacks appear to be Tehran’s response to Blinken’s message.

Iran has the ability to influence the armed factions and can therefore, order them to stop attacking American forces in Iraq.

However, it seems Tehran is unlikely at this time to succumb to American demands or conditions, meaning Tehran has set its own difficult demands and conditions.

Washington appears incapable of meeting them because it would put it in a difficult position with Israel and because it is gearing up for presidential elections.

The Iraqi factions, therefore, appear to have no other choice than to openly challenge the US, regardless of whether their demands are met or not.



Syrian Govt Says Fighting in Sweida Halted

19 July 2025, Syria, Sweida: Bedouin and tribal fighters gather in the city of Sweida, as smoke rises from burning houses amid clashes between tribal fighters and local Druze factions in southern Syria. Photo: Moawia Atrash/dpa
19 July 2025, Syria, Sweida: Bedouin and tribal fighters gather in the city of Sweida, as smoke rises from burning houses amid clashes between tribal fighters and local Druze factions in southern Syria. Photo: Moawia Atrash/dpa
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Syrian Govt Says Fighting in Sweida Halted

19 July 2025, Syria, Sweida: Bedouin and tribal fighters gather in the city of Sweida, as smoke rises from burning houses amid clashes between tribal fighters and local Druze factions in southern Syria. Photo: Moawia Atrash/dpa
19 July 2025, Syria, Sweida: Bedouin and tribal fighters gather in the city of Sweida, as smoke rises from burning houses amid clashes between tribal fighters and local Druze factions in southern Syria. Photo: Moawia Atrash/dpa

Fighting in Syria's Sweida "halted" on Sunday, the government said, after the southern city was recaptured by Druze fighters and state forces redeployed to the region where more than 900 people have been killed in sectarian violence.

Sweida was "evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighborhoods were halted", Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said in a post on Telegram.

More than 900 people have been killed in Sweida since last Sunday as sectarian clashes between the Druze and Bedouin drew in the government, Israel and armed tribes from other parts of Syria.

In a statement on Saturday, the Syrian presidency announced an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and urged all parties to commit to it and end hostilities in all areas immediately.

US envoy Tom Barrack announced on Friday that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Israel intervened in the conflict earlier this week, hitting government forces and the defense ministry building in Damascus as it declared support for the Druze minority.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later urged the Syrian government to "hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks".