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Iraq Rejects Violation of Jordan’s Sovereignty in Wake of Kataib Hezbollah Threats

Protesters clash with security forces in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman in October 2023. (AFP)
Protesters clash with security forces in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman in October 2023. (AFP)
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Iraq Rejects Violation of Jordan’s Sovereignty in Wake of Kataib Hezbollah Threats

Protesters clash with security forces in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman in October 2023. (AFP)
Protesters clash with security forces in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman in October 2023. (AFP)

The pro-Iran Kataib Hezbollah faction in Iraq “vowed to supply Jordanian fighters with weapons” to defend “our brothers in Palestine.”

A security official from the faction known as Abu Ali al-Askari said: “The ‘Islamic Resistance in Iraq’ is ready to meet the needs of 12,000 fighters ... so that we can stand united in defending our brothers in Palestine.”

He said the group could provide the fighters with “light and medium weapons, tactical rockets, millions of rounds of ammunition and tons of explosives.”

His announcement coincided with the return of protests in condemnation of the Israeli war on Gaza in front of the Israeli embassy in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

More and more protesters have been gathering in front of the mission. They appear to be better organized and have made more demands in spite of Jordan’s intense diplomatic efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and deliver aid to the people.

The demonstrators have also been demanding that the “land bridge” that provides Israel with goods and vegetables be halted

Al-Askari said the fighters would be ready to stop the bridge. The government has said it remains open given contractual obligations between Jordanian businesses and Israel.

Amman has continued its diplomatic efforts to end the war. On Monday, King Abdullah II received Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The leaders underlined the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

No sign of threat

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry did not comment on the escalation by the Kataib Hezbollah.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is meanwhile, preparing to carry out a major visit to the United States where he will meet with President Joe Biden.

An Iraqi security official dismissed Kataib Hezbollah’s announcement. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said: “The situation in Iraq doesn’t allow for the armament of groups outside the country for the purpose of carrying out ‘suspicious’ activity.”

“Iraq will not allow the violation of the sovereignty of a brotherly neighbor,” he added on condition of anonymity.

Moreover, he said there were “no indications on the ground” that arms could be delivered to fighters in Jordan. Furthermore, he stated there was no intelligence information to that end, whether from Iraq or regional and international powers.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein also cast doubt on the statements of the armed groups about attacking targets in Israel.

During a recent visit to Washington, he said the use of weapons requires an order from the commander of the armed forces. “No one can take a unilateral decision to wage war on any side,” he added.

The decision to go to war is taken strictly by the parliament, he stressed.

Media theatrics

In Jordan, security agencies dismissed Kataib Hezbollah’s announcement as “media theatrics solely aimed at stoking tensions in the region.”

A Jordanian government source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the country has thwarted in recent months “several attempts and plots by armed groups that are active along the border with Iraq.”

The Jordanian army has bolstered its defense capabilities in recent years “to confront the threats posed by Iraq’s proxies along the northern border with Syria and eastern one with Iraq.”

It revealed that since October 7, pro-Iran Iraqi militias have sought to infiltrate the Jordanian border with the aim of marching towards the Palestinian territories. The Jordanian army has thwarted several of these attempts.

Amman accuses Tehran of seeking to threaten Jordan’s security through its proxies in neighboring countries.

Local security sources have said that the protests in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman are sponsored by Iran, managed by Hamas and carried out by its wings in the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Violation of sovereignty

Head of the Center for Political Thinking in Iraq Ihssan Shmary told Asharq Al-Awsat that Kataib Hezbollah’s announcement is part of a campaign to pressure US allies in the region.

The armed groups are “directly interfering in the affairs of an independent neighboring country,” he continued, noting that the announcement was made as Jordan is already dealing with the protests, which may mean these two developments may be tied to attempts to “unify arenas claimed by the resistance.”

He dismissed the possibility of Kataib Hezbollah delivering weapons to Jordan, saying such a move would be a violation of international laws and may affect relations between it and Iraq.

He predicted that the threats would only encourage Jordan and Iraq to tighten security along their border.

Eilat attack

Meanwhile, the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” claimed on Tuesday responsibility for a drone attack on Israel’s Eilat naval base on the Red Sea.

In a statement, it vowed to continue its attacks against Israel in retaliation to its assault on the Palestinian people in Gaza.

A “suspicious aerial target” fell within Jordanian territory close to the border with Israel on Tuesday, the Israeli military said after local media reported the crash of a drone in an open area.

The port has come under repeated drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militias during the almost six-month-old Gaza war.

On Monday, the military said a building in an Eilat naval base had been struck by an object launched from the east of Israel - suggesting that the provenance was Iraq.

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Arab World

Lebanon Fears New War as Hezbollah Retains Say Over Conflict

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun inspects military units deployed in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, South Lebanon (File photo: Lebanese Presidency).
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun inspects military units deployed in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, South Lebanon (File photo: Lebanese Presidency).
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Lebanon Fears New War as Hezbollah Retains Say Over Conflict

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun inspects military units deployed in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, South Lebanon (File photo: Lebanese Presidency).
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun inspects military units deployed in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, South Lebanon (File photo: Lebanese Presidency).

Lebanon faces mounting political and security uncertainty amid fears it could be drawn into a new regional war pitting the United States and Israel against Iran, with the government unable to guarantee that Hezbollah would stay out of the fighting.

The prospect has alarmed Lebanese citizens, who fear renewed destruction and displacement, as well as officials who have limited control over how events might unfold. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have repeatedly warned of the dangers posed by the absence of clear assurances about Hezbollah’s intentions.

Lebanese State Faces Dilemma Over Lack of Guarantees

Although the Lebanese government has taken unprecedented decisions aimed at placing authority over war and peace exclusively in its hands, with broad support from Western and Arab countries, a major source of uncertainty remains in its inability to guarantee that Hezbollah will comply with any state decision to keep Lebanon out of a regional confrontation.

Despite officials’ insistence that such decisions must rest solely with legitimate state institutions, Hezbollah’s continued control over its own military decisions and the close connection between its strategic calculations and developments in Iran leave the state facing a complex situation.

A ministerial source said domestic contacts have continued among the various parties but have yet to produce tangible results, apart from statements suggesting that Hezbollah would not enter any future conflict.

The source cautioned, however, that these assurances have not been accompanied by substantive evidence to justify confidence, making vigilance essential at this stage.

The source stressed that the Lebanese state is not weak and that its position remains firm, having adopted clear decisions in this regard. The problem, however, is that the party directly involved in decisions on war is neither cooperating with the state nor responding to its policies, acting instead according to calculations and priorities that differ from those of official institutions.

“The state does not want war or destruction, but the calculations of the other side — Hezbollah — are different,” the source said.

Amid regional uncertainty following the Israeli and US elections, the source said the core problem also lies in the nature of Hezbollah’s relationship with Iran.

Tehran, the source explained, does not treat the Lebanese state as the official authority on this issue. Instead, it communicates with the group it supports, without offering clear guarantees that Hezbollah will stay out of any future confrontation.

The source also pointed to recent remarks attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei concerning the “unity of fronts,” describing them as a signal that cannot be ignored when assessing the possibilities ahead.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks in Aita al-Shaab during a previous visit to southern Lebanon. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Israeli Threats, US Warnings Heighten Concerns

Developments on the ground have done little to ease fears, with Israeli attacks continuing in southern Lebanon alongside repeated threats.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to expand military operations and target additional areas of Lebanon if Hezbollah joins any confrontation involving Iran, while Israeli media have discussed possible military scenarios extending beyond the area south of the Litani River.

Israel’s Maariv newspaper published information about possible plans involving an advance toward Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh, as well as a naval blockade of the ports of Beirut and Tripoli should the conflict widen.

These remain scenarios reported in the media, with no official confirmation that they will be implemented.

The warnings are not limited to Israel.

The ministerial source reiterated that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had conveyed clear warnings to President Joseph Aoun that Hezbollah’s involvement in any future war would invalidate previous guarantees, potentially exposing Lebanon to far-reaching consequences that could prove impossible to contain.

Regarding the suspension of Lebanese-Israeli talks, the source expressed hope that negotiations would resume and produce results.

The source added, however, that the suspension was not unexpected, as it had been clear for some time that the talks would not take place during the US and Israeli election periods.

Lebanon Faces a Serious Predicament

Dr. Rodrigue Abi Khalil, head of the Political Science Department at the Lebanese University, said the uncertainty confronting the Lebanese state stems fundamentally from its lack of the means to implement its commitments, despite the unprecedented decisions taken by the government to assert its authority and extend state sovereignty.

Abi Khalil told Asharq Al-Awsat that, despite their significance, these decisions run up against the reality that Hezbollah’s decisions remain tied to Iran, preventing the state from controlling the course of a confrontation or keeping Lebanon from being drawn into one.

“Government decisions, however important, are not sufficient for the international community unless they are translated into practical measures on the ground, particularly since Hezbollah will not relinquish this advantage without a political price,” he said.

Abi Khalil argued that Lebanon’s domestic political situation is closely linked to regional developments, leaving the country in a serious predicament as the region approaches a pivotal phase that could see war resume with greater intensity amid US and Israeli efforts to bring about strategic changes in the region.

He said this reality explains the Lebanese state’s uncertainty and apprehension, as a significant part of the decision affecting Lebanon’s fate depends on the outcome of the potential confrontation.

“This connection has been clearly reflected in the course of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, which have yet to produce decisive results,” he added.

Abi Khalil concluded that “Lebanon is approaching the prospect of another confrontation without having adequately prepared for it, while the state waits to see what outside powers decide rather than controlling the course of events itself.”

Arab World

Iraqi Armed Factions Face Allegations of Seizing Commercial Contracts

Iraqi security forces stand guard as protesters holding a “Jihad Brigades” banner gather in Basra, Iraq, April 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Iraqi security forces stand guard as protesters holding a “Jihad Brigades” banner gather in Basra, Iraq, April 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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Iraqi Armed Factions Face Allegations of Seizing Commercial Contracts

Iraqi security forces stand guard as protesters holding a “Jihad Brigades” banner gather in Basra, Iraq, April 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Iraqi security forces stand guard as protesters holding a “Jihad Brigades” banner gather in Basra, Iraq, April 7, 2026. (Reuters)

Tensions between the Iraqi government and armed factions have deepened, with mounting accusations over the groups’ economic influence, property acquisitions and investment projects. This coincided with security and military operations aimed at curbing the activities of the groups that, according to government assessments, are not fully under state control.

The escalation followed questions raised by Kataib Hezbollah about oil sales to a regional company and whether members of the Coordination Framework approved of selling oil at discounted prices while sharing in the profits.

In response, pro-government media outlets published information about what they described as Kataib Hezbollah’s “investment network,” alleging that it operates with the help of traders and businessmen, involves property acquisitions and has developed into an investment venture.

The disclosures coincided with a coordinated social media campaign that began referring to Iran-allied “resistance” groups in Iraq as “contractors.”

The details of the property-related allegations and the identities of those benefiting from the alleged activities could not be independently verified.

Observers said the timing of the disclosures suggested that the dispute had expanded to economic interests, after previously focusing primarily on efforts to bring all weapons under state control. Negotiations on that issue have yet to produce tangible progress.

In an effort to curb corruption in military manufacturing contracts, particularly amid questions about their links to financial benefits, intermediaries and ties with armed factions, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered this week the cancellation of contracts with intermediary companies and directed that military manufacturing contracts be concluded directly with manufacturers.

The move followed reports linking companies involved in military manufacturing contracts to Kataib Hezbollah.

Tighter monitoring of armed factions

Meanwhile, security and military agencies have begun expanding their monitoring of armed groups affiliated with factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), signaling an effort to impose stricter government oversight on movements that previously enjoyed considerable freedom within their areas of operation.

In one incident, a security force detained a group of members of an armed faction who were carrying 35 rockets while traveling toward the Babil province, according to information circulating about the incident.

The group’s movement raised questions about the shipment’s final destination, particularly because the province includes Jurf al-Sakhar, a major Kataib Hezbollah stronghold where armed factions wield extensive security and military influence.

A security source contacted by Asharq Al-Awsat declined to comment on the details of the incident.

However, the source did not deny that “such activities, regardless of the status of those carrying them out, including affiliation with the PMF, are now subject to monitoring and pursuit by the relevant authorities.”

Implementation test

The seizure of the rockets has brought the issue of placing weapons under state control back to the forefront as one of the government’s most significant challenges.

Political researcher Falah al-Mishal said bringing weapons under state control or securing their surrender was a priority in the government’s program.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that during a visit to Washington and a meeting with US President Donald Trump, al-Zaidi had made commitments regarding a deadline for surrendering weapons, initially set for the end of last September, before the government requested an extension until next June.

“This project, which the United States made a benchmark for the success of al-Zaidi’s government and a reason for supporting it, has encountered setbacks,” he remarked.

“To observers, it appears that the issue of disarming the factions has remained confined to media statements, with nothing achieved on the ground.”

He added that recent reports had described the destruction of weapons depots belonging to the PMF around Baghdad, alongside reports and leaks about weapons and experts from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps entering the ranks of armed factions.

Al-Mishal said these developments had prompted the United States to warn against any easing of government pressure to eliminate weapons outside state control.

Ghalib al-Daami, a media professor at Mustansiriyah University, said Washington approaches Iraq based on strategic interests rather than political relationships or personal considerations.

He warned that failure to surrender weapons within the agreed deadline could prompt the United States to take economic and political measures against Iraq.

Al-Daami told Asharq Al-Awsat that broad sanctions or economic restrictions could worsen domestic conditions, warning that the continued presence of weapons outside state control increased the likelihood of clashes between rival groups.

He said Iraq could face two possible outcomes: either growing chaos, or the government’s success in asserting its authority by placing weapons exclusively under the control of state institutions.

Arab World

US State Department 'Expels' Lebanon’s Consul in Detroit

Lebanon’s consul in Detroit Ibrahim Charara. (Facebook)
Lebanon’s consul in Detroit Ibrahim Charara. (Facebook)
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US State Department 'Expels' Lebanon’s Consul in Detroit

Lebanon’s consul in Detroit Ibrahim Charara. (Facebook)
Lebanon’s consul in Detroit Ibrahim Charara. (Facebook)

Lebanese Foreign Ministry sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Lebanese Embassy in Washington had been formally notified by the US State Department that Lebanon’s consul in Detroit, Ibrahim Charara, had been declared persona non grata and must leave the United States within 48 hours.

The decision reportedly followed controversy sparked by US media reports that resurfaced old social media posts attributed to Charara about the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut, which he had described as “heroic resistance.”

Political Views

In a report published on November 2, the US news website The Washington Free Beacon said Charara had written in a 2021 social media post marking the anniversary of the Marine barracks bombing that “heroic resistance” had ended the “American military occupation of Beirut with a single strike.”

The website also cited another post attributed to Charara that read: “From the Marine barracks in Beirut to the Al-Tanf base ... we will reject the occupier and defeat him,” an apparent reference to the US military presence in Syria.

The report also highlighted other positions attributed to Charara, including his praise for the escape of six Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s Gilboa Prison in 2021. It also pointed to his X account’s cover image, which shows an Israeli flag burning, and a quotation by Palestinian writer and political figure Ghassan Kanafani in his profile bio.

The controversy resurfaced on the eve of the midterm elections, with the Free Beacon highlighting Charara’s attendance at an Arab American political action committee event in Dearborn, attended by Senate candidate Abdulrahman Alsayed (who later won the seat) and other Democratic hopefuls.

The report was published a day before the November 3 vote, fueling speculation about an attempt to influence Michigan voters, though no link between the event and the US decision has been established.

Article 23 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations allows a host country to declare a consular officer persona non grata, requiring the sending state to recall the officer or end their duties. If the sending state does not comply within a reasonable time, the host country may stop recognizing the officer’s consular status. This measure does not itself constitute a criminal conviction.

The decision is expected to require Beirut to make arrangements for the consulate’s management and ensure the continued delivery of services to the Lebanese community, while containing the diplomatic fallout. The move against the consul does not in itself mean a rupture in relations or the closure of the mission, but the scope of the fallout will depend on Washington’s explanations and Beirut’s response.