US urges Iraq to act against militias embedded in state

A senior US State Department official has urged Iraqi leaders to take decisive action against militias embedded within state institutions, stressing that Washington expects “actions, not words.”

The remarks were reported by Asharq News Washington bureau chief Hiba Nasr in a post on X. The official said Iraqi authorities, including the designated prime minister, are aware of US expectations but must now demonstrate tangible steps.

“I think that Iraqi leaders, including the designated prime minister, understand what the United States expects. We are waiting for actions, not words. At this point, the line between the Iraqi state and these groups is very blurred. Everything must begin with expelling terrorist groups from any state institutions, ending their support from the Iraqi budget, and refusing to pay salaries to fighters of these formations. It is precisely such concrete actions that would give us confidence and demonstrate a new approach,” the official said.

The statement also alleged that elements within Iraq’s state structures continue to support these groups. “Certain structures of the Iraqi state continue to provide political, financial, and operational cover for these same terrorist groups. I do not underestimate the seriousness of this challenge or what will be required to sever these ties,” the official added.

The official suggested that a starting point could be a clear political stance. “It could begin with a clear and unequivocal statement that terrorist groups are not part of the Iraqi state.”

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, with the official noting that “during the regional conflict, we have recorded more than 600 attacks on US facilities in Iraq.”

By Tamilla Hasanova