Hegseth urges Iraq to disarm Iran-backed militias after Pentagon meeting

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directly called on Iraq to disarm Iran-backed militias, emphasizing the need for Baghdad to assert its sovereignty. The demand followed a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the Pentagon.

Hegseth, speaking via a post on X, blamed these militias for over 600 attacks on U.S. personnel during the spring. He stressed that Iraq's disarmament of these groups is crucial for its sovereignty.

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Iraq must assert its sovereignty by disarming militias he blamed for carrying out more than 600 attacks on U.S. personnel this spring.

The U.S. also signaled a shift in military responsibilities, expecting Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga, to take the lead in operations against ISIS. This comes as the Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) military mission winds down. Hegseth suggested that a secure Iraq would foster stronger commercial and defense ties between the two nations.

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a secure Iraq would pave the way for stronger commercial and defense cooperation between the two countries.