U.S. Draws Line: Iraq Must Cut Militia Ties

Iraq’s incoming Prime minister just received a phone call from Washington that will determine whether his government survives its first month—and whether decades of Iranian shadow control over Baghdad finally begin to crumble.

Story Snapshot

President Trump congratulated Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi on Truth Social, linking support to cutting ties with Iran-backed militias
An Iraqi committee is finalizing an executive plan to disarm Popular Mobilization Forces under intense US pressure
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Zaidi his government’s legitimacy depends on distancing from armed factions
The US Treasury imposed fresh sanctions on Iran-linked Iraqis the same day Trump issued his public endorsement
Former General David Petraeus may visit Baghdad to enforce militia severance as part of coordinated US strategy

The High-Stakes Congratulations No One Expected

Trump’s May 9 message to Ali al-Zaidi carried none of the diplomatic niceties typically reserved for fragile Middle Eastern partnerships. He praised the incoming Iraqi leader for ushering in a “tremendous new chapter” of prosperity and stability “free from terrorism.” The timing mattered more than the words. Hours earlier, the US Treasury Department sanctioned additional Iraqis with ties to Tehran. This was not a blank check—it was a conditional promise delivered with one hand while the other tightened economic screws on Iran’s proxies.

Why Militia Disarmament Became the Litmus Test

The Popular Mobilization Forces were born in 2014 as Iraq’s defense against ISIS, but they morphed into something far more troublesome for American interests. Legalized in 2016 as a state-sanctioned security apparatus, the PMF retained autonomous factions like Kata’ib Hezbollah that answer to Iran’s Quds Force, not Baghdad. These groups have attacked US bases, extorted civilians, and served as Tehran’s enforcement arm across Iraq. Washington has spent years trying to dismantle this parallel power structure. Previous attempts failed because Iraqi leaders lacked the political will or muscle to challenge militias that controlled streets and smuggling routes.

Trump Congratulates Incoming Iraqi Leader, Who Moves To Disarm Pro-Iran Militias https://t.co/h5qBFkw6WX

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) May 10, 2026

Zaidi now faces what his predecessors avoided: a three-man committee racing to finalize a plan that would force PMF factions to surrender heavy weapons, integrate into Iraq’s formal military command, or disband entirely. Asharq Al-Awsat reported on May 8 that this executive plan neared completion after secret negotiations with militia leaders. The committee, composed of senior Iraqi figures, works under mounting US pressure to restructure security leadership. Their proposal must satisfy American demands while avoiding a violent backlash from armed groups accustomed to operating beyond government control.

Hegseth’s Phone Call Drew the Red Line

Two days before Trump’s public congratulations, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth telephoned Zaidi with a blunt message: your government’s legitimacy depends on how far you distance yourself from Iran-backed factions. This was not a suggestion floated during polite diplomatic channels. It was a condition for American support, delivered directly to a prime minister-designate still assembling his cabinet. Hegseth’s call followed months of intensified US strategy to force Baghdad’s hand, including sanctions on PMF financiers and threats to withhold aid if militia integration stalled.

Republican strategist Malik Francis, speaking to Shafaq News on May 9, characterized the US stance as cautious rather than hostile. America was testing whether Zaidi represented genuine change or another iteration of Shia political figures who promise reform while protecting Iran’s interests. Francis noted that Washington would not extend unconditional support—a sharp departure from past administrations that tolerated militia influence to maintain stability. Trump’s opposition to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a notorious Iran ally, signaled continuity in this harder line.

Petraeus Returns to the Scene of His Greatest Victory

The potential visit by David Petraeus to Baghdad during the week of May 9 carried symbolic weight beyond typical diplomatic missions. Petraeus commanded US forces during the 2007 Surge, when American troops partnered with Sunni militias to crush al-Qaeda in Iraq. His counterinsurgency doctrine emphasized winning local support by securing populations and integrating armed groups into legitimate structures. If Petraeus arrives now, it signals Washington views the PMF challenge through a similar lens: not just a military problem, but a political one requiring Iraqi buy-in to succeed.

The parallels are imperfect. The Surge addressed Sunni insurgents, while today’s challenge involves Shia militias backed by a hostile regional power with deep pockets and ideological commitments. Iran will not surrender its Iraqi proxies without a fight, even if that fight unfolds through political sabotage rather than open warfare. Tehran has spent two decades building influence in Baghdad through patronage networks, economic ties, and the PMF’s street-level power. Dismantling that structure threatens Iran’s land bridge to Syria and Lebanon, a strategic asset worth defending.

What Success Looks Like and Why It Matters

If Zaidi’s government succeeds in disarming or integrating PMF factions, Iraq shifts decisively toward the American orbit for the first time since 2003. Reduced militia power means fewer attacks on US bases, less extortion of Iraqi businesses, and weakened Iranian influence over Baghdad’s decision-making. Sunni and Kurdish communities would benefit from more balanced security arrangements, potentially easing sectarian tensions that have plagued Iraq for decades. Economically, a militia-free environment could attract American investment and oil development deals that Trump referenced when promising prosperity.

#BREAKING: Trump congratulates incoming Iraqi leader as he moves to disarm pro-Iran militias.

— Insider (World News) (@InsiderWN) May 10, 2026

The risks are equally significant. PMF factions could respond with violence against Iraqi government targets or US personnel. Militia leaders who built personal fortunes through smuggling and extortion will not surrender power voluntarily. Iran possesses multiple levers to destabilize Zaidi’s government before it consolidates, from stirring street protests to funding political opposition. The plan’s success depends on whether Iraqi security forces can enforce disarmament without triggering civil conflict, and whether Zaidi can maintain Shia political coalition support while defying Tehran.