Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq have used the delay in the US-led coalition's withdrawal as a reason to step up their attacks, citing “diplomatic failure” and “Washington’s stalling” in talks with the Iraqi government.
Two factions within the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” said they are “ready to resume operations” and that the “truce brokered by the Iraqi government is effectively over.”
Last Thursday, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry announced that Baghdad postponed the announcement of the coalition's withdrawal due to “recent developments,” including the bombing of the Ain al-Asad base.
Later, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that while “withdrawal negotiations are ongoing, the situation has changed.”
Kazem Al-Fartousi, spokesperson for the “Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada” faction, said the government hasn’t informed them that talks with the US have stopped for any reason.
He stressed that Iraqi resistance factions have always been clear: if diplomacy fails to end the US presence, they will resume operations to free all Iraqi territory.
However, Al-Fartousi added that they are “waiting for an official update from the government on the negotiations” and noted that “the Americans aren’t serious about withdrawing.”
Meanwhile, the “Nujaba Movement” announced it is “no longer bound by the truce with US forces,” which was meant to give the Iraqi government time to negotiate.
Haider Al-Lami, a political council member of Nujaba Movement, stated that “resistance factions have ended the truce, and all options are on the table to target US bases in Iraq.”
He also accused the US of stalling in the withdrawal talks.
Iraqi media reported that leaders of armed factions met recently to discuss the impact of delaying the US withdrawal.
The meeting concluded that “attacks on US forces will soon resume with greater intensity,” regardless of what happens in Gaza, even if Hamas reaches a ceasefire.
