Newsletters
U.S. President Donald Trump told Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi that he would target Iran-aligned armed factions in Iraq and their leaders if they join any new war in support of Iran, pressing Baghdad to bring the groups under state control, Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar reported, citing sources.
The warning came during a Nov. 5 phone call, after which Zaidi met U.S. envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad, An-Nahar said.
Trump warned of the consequences for Iraq’s security and stability and linked continued delays in disarming the factions to the future of relations with Zaidi’s government and the level of U.S. support, the newspaper reported.
There was no official comment from the White House or the Iraqi government on the reported call.
The government has struggled to persuade factions to give up their military capabilities despite talks led by a committee formed by the ruling Coordination Framework, which expanded from three to four members, An-Nahar reported.
Kataib Hezbollah, al-Nujaba and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada are among the groups clinging to their arms, viewing them as a guarantee of political and security influence, the newspaper said.
Zaidi is awaiting authorization from the Coordination Framework to arrest those using weapons outside state control after understandings with the factions collapsed, sources close to the government told Iraqi outlet Al-Mada.
The Shiite alliance has warned him that arresting groups refusing to hand over weapons could bring down both the government and the Framework, the Iraqi media outlet reported.
The factions backed away from earlier pledges to regulate their weapons, made before they secured additional ministries and posts, as the prospect of war against Iran grew, the outlet added.
Kataib Hezbollah security official Abu Mujahid al-Assaf accused Zaidi and his circle of corruption, urging the Federal Integrity Commission to investigate wealth he claimed totals about 21 trillion Iraqi dinars ($13.8 billion) amassed in under a decade, without publicly presenting evidence, An-Nahar reported.
The group also demanded disclosure of understandings it said were reached with the Framework committee and accused Zaidi of running deals with the UAE.
An Iraqi official source said the Integrity Commission is auditing government contracts, including in transport and airports, over suspected manipulation benefiting armed groups, with suspicions involving economic entities believed linked to Kataib Hezbollah, An-Nahar said.
The suspicions have yet to be proven in court.
An arrest warrant dated July 5, has recirculated for Hussein Mohsen Ahmed Faraj al-Hamidawi, reportedly the son of Kataib Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, on charges under Iraq’s Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005 of leading an armed group that uses violence and threats to destabilize security, the newspaper reported.
The factions appear to have responded to Zaidi’s escalation and his call with Trump by striking the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaimaniyah, two days after Kataib Hezbollah hinted that parties linked to Zaidi were behind previous attacks on the field.
The drone attacks on Sunday and Monday cut gas to Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government's (KRG) power plants, coinciding with tensions between the two main Kurdish parties and fueling talk of a "false flag" operation.
Zaidi ordered a joint committee with the KRG to investigate, the 12th government committee since 2022 to probe attacks on the facility, none of which has identified the perpetrators.
The previous government received a list of suspects last year, but no names or action followed.
Khor Mor, operated by UAE-based Dana Gas since 2007, produces more than 450 million cubic feet of gas and 22,000 barrels of oil a day. The attacks cost the power grid more than 2,500 megawatts.
Political sources told Al-Mada that dragging the UAE into the disarmament fight has no factual basis, noting that ADNOC bought about 72 million barrels of Iraqi oil from SOMO in September and October at Iraq’s offer of steep discounts, of which about 35 million have been delivered due to regional shipping constraints.
Trump's reported warning raises the stakes for Zaidi as he weighs moves against armed factions.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
