US sanctions Iran-aligned militia commanders over attacks on personnel in Iraq

The United States has imposed sanctions on seven commanders of Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq, accusing them of planning and directing attacks against U.S. personnel and interests, the State Department has said.

The officials targeted lead members of Kata’ib Hezbollah, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat al-Nujaba and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haqq, which Washington describes as Iran-backed organisations operating in Iraq.

“These individuals lead some of the most reprehensible Iran-backed terror groups in Iraq,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said in a statement. He said the groups threatened U.S. lives, undermined Iraqi sovereignty and used Iraqi territory to conduct attacks.

The measures were taken under Executive Order 13224, which allows the U.S. government to designate individuals and entities linked to terrorism, and expand existing sanctions against militia networks in Iraq.

The State Department said the groups have been designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and Foreign Terrorist Organisations under U.S. law.

The Trump administration said it remained committed to countering what it described as Iran’s destabilising influence in the region and urged Iraqi authorities to dismantle the groups.

“We call on Iraqi authorities to take immediate steps to dismantle these groups and prevent them from using Iraqi territory to conduct terrorist activities,” the statement said.

Washington has repeatedly accused Iran-backed militias in Iraq of carrying out rocket and drone attacks on U.S. bases and diplomatic facilities in the region, particularly amid heightened regional tensions in recent years.