Quds Force chief urges Iraqi militias to refrain from responding to US, Israel threats

Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, has urged leaders of armed militias in Iraq to refrain from taking any action in response to threats posed by the United States and Israel.

This message was conveyed during Qaani's recent trip to Baghdad, where he held multiple high-level meetings with key figures from Iran-aligned factions in Iraq, Caliber.Az reports per Iranian media.

Qaani’s warning was also relayed to Yemen’s Houthi group through intermediaries in Iraq, underscoring Iran’s efforts to maintain control over its regional alliances and manage tensions in the Middle East.

Qaani arrived in Baghdad on March 19 for discussions with leaders of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia political parties aligned with Iran. In addition to meeting with members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of Shia paramilitaries integrated into Iraq's security apparatus, Qaani also engaged with commanders of armed factions linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The meetings were reportedly aimed at addressing growing concerns about the increased tensions between Iran and its adversaries, particularly the US and Israel. Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadegh, also participated in the discussions, emphasizing the need for strategic restraint.

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have consistently launched UAVs toward Israel, prompting the United States to issue a stern warning to Iraq in November, emphasizing that Israel would no longer tolerate the daily missile and drone strikes originating from Iraqi soil.

In late December, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that it had received confirmation from a leader of one of the Iraqi militias, who stated that the militias had agreed to halt their offensive actions against Israel. This development marked a temporary pause in the cross-border hostilities, though it remains unclear whether the ceasefire will hold in the long term.

Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels based in Yemen have escalated their activities in the region since October 2023, launching drones and ballistic missiles at Israeli cities. The Houthis have also intensified their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, further heightening tensions. These actions are framed as part of their support for Gaza, underscoring the regional dimension of the conflict and the Houthis' alignment with Iran's broader strategic goals.

The Houthis ceased their missile launches towards Israel when a ceasefire and hostage release agreement was established between Israel and Hamas. However, just last week, they resumed firing missiles at Israel, reigniting tensions in the region.

In response, the United States launched an operation against the Houthis in Yemen, targeting their defence capabilities, including missile and drone systems.

By Vafa Guliyeva