Kurdish Policy Analysis

Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades dismiss allegations of Iraqi government involvement, accuse Israel of seeking wider regional escalation, and pledge to allow Baghdad to pursue diplomatic efforts.

An Iraqi Shiite militia denies coordination between Baghdad and Washington over attacks on Hashd al-Shaabi, calling President Trump's claims false.

Iraqi Shiite Militia Rejects Claims of Baghdad–Washington Coordination Over Strikes on Hashd al-Shaabi

A senior official from one of Iraq's prominent Shiite armed groups has denied claims that the Iraqi government coordinated with the United States over recent attacks targeting Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) positions.

Speaking on behalf of the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, spokesman Kazem al-Fartousi rejected allegations that Baghdad had worked with Washington in relation to the U.S. and Saudi strikes, describing former U.S. President Donald Trump's claims as "a joke" and accusing him of creating confusion by "mixing the cards."

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and growing speculation over the role of Iraqi armed groups in the expanding confrontation involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and Gulf states.

Militia Rejects Accusations

Al-Fartousi insisted that Iraq's resistance factions had not carried out attacks against neighbouring countries, rejecting allegations that the groups were responsible for recent incidents targeting regional oil infrastructure.

Instead, he suggested that Israel may have been behind attacks on oil facilities in an effort to draw additional regional actors into the conflict and widen the scope of confrontation.

The comments reflect a broader narrative promoted by several factions within the so-called "Axis of Resistance," which argue that external actors are seeking to provoke a wider regional war by attributing attacks to Iraqi groups.

Support for Government Action

Despite rejecting allegations against the armed factions, Al-Fartousi indicated that the resistance groups would allow the Iraqi government and parliament to take the lead in responding to the latest developments.

He said the groups would provide space for Baghdad to pursue both diplomatic and field measures aimed at protecting Iraqi sovereignty and preventing further escalation.

The statement suggests an effort to publicly align the militias with the government's official position at a time when Baghdad is attempting to balance domestic security concerns with increasing regional pressure.

A Test for Baghdad

The remarks come as the Iraqi government faces mounting scrutiny over its ability to maintain authority over the country's security landscape.

With regional tensions continuing to rise, Baghdad is under growing pressure to demonstrate that Iraqi territory will not become a platform for attacks against neighbouring states or a battleground for proxy confrontation.

How the government responds in the coming days could shape not only Iraq's internal stability but also its relations with Washington, Tehran, and Gulf Arab states.

➜ Related: "Iraq Can No Longer Play Both Sides: The Time for Strategic Ambiguity Is Over"

The latest statement from the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades reinforces a central question confronting Baghdad: who ultimately controls Iraq's security policy? While armed factions say they will allow the government to pursue diplomatic solutions, the broader challenge remains whether the Iraqi state can exercise full authority over decisions involving war, peace, and cross-border military activity. As regional tensions intensify, Iraq's ability to preserve sovereignty will increasingly depend on demonstrating that national security decisions originate in Baghdad rather than through competing armed actors.

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