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Kata'ib Hezbollah suspends military operations after US withdrawal from Iraq

Kata'ib Hezbollah suspends military operations after US withdrawal from Iraq

Force in Play

Iran-backed militia halts attacks but refuses to disarm, as Washington warns of a terrorism designation and Baghdad's deadline slips to 2027

October 19th, 2026: Reports allege Iran-linked factions sent fighter funds to IRGC

Overview

Updated Oct 19

The last US troops left Iraq on September 30, ending a 12-year mission against the Islamic State. Kata'ib Hezbollah, the most powerful Iran-backed militia in the country, said it would suspend military operations, except against aircraft it considers hostile.

Talks with Baghdad on handing over weapons have failed, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said, and the deadline for militias to disarm is now June 2027. Washington warned Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi that unresolved armed groups could put Iraq on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, Channel8 reported, and he took the warning to the Coordination Framework.

Why it matters

With US troops gone, Iraq's government must convince Iran-backed militias to disarm by June 2027, or accept armed groups operating outside state control.

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Key Indicators

June 2027
Deadline for militia disarmament
Moved back from September 30, 2026. The plan calls for a 90-day period without attacks, then a phased handover of weapons.
3
Armed groups that placed weapons under state authority
Asaib Ahl Al Haq, Kataib Imam Ali and Saraya al-Salam claim to have complied.
Warning
US terrorism-list threat
Washington told Baghdad that failure to resolve the standoff with armed groups could lead to Iraq being placed on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
12
Years of US military mission in Iraq
The US-led coalition mission against the Islamic State began in 2014 and ended September 30, 2026.

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People Involved

Ahmad al-Hamidawi
Ahmad al-Hamidawi
Secretary-General of Kata'ib Hezbollah
Announced suspension of military operations; denied disarmament deal
 Ali al-Zaidi
Ali al-Zaidi
Prime Minister of Iraq
Set a June 2027 disarmament deadline and rallied the Coordination Framework behind legal measures against factions that refuse
 Donald Trump
Donald Trump
President of the United States
Hailed completion of US withdrawal from Iraq
 Jaafar al-Husseini
Jaafar al-Husseini
Spokesperson for the Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Said factions are not bound by any disarmament timetable
 Abu Ala al-Walai
Abu Ala al-Walai
Secretary-General of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada
Conditionally backed the internal disarmament framework; said his faction would fight if Iran faced an existential threat

Organizations Involved

Kata'ib Hezbollah
Kata'ib Hezbollah
Iran-backed militia
Suspended military operations; refused to disarm

The most powerful Iran-backed armed group in Iraq.
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Umbrella coalition of pro-Iranian armed groups
Said talks with the government on regulating weapons failed and that it is not bound by any timeline or agreement

Coalition of pro-Iranian armed groups that includes Kata'ib Hezbollah.
US-led coalition
US-led coalition
International military coalition
Completed withdrawal from Iraq

International coalition deployed to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Timeline

2014 October 2026

9 events Latest: October 19th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Reports allege Iran-linked factions sent fighter funds to IRGC

    Latest Report

    Iraqi security sources cited by Erem News said Kata'ib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada froze bonuses of up to $400 a month for some fighters and moved $150-200 million to Iran-linked entities over nine months on Quds Force instructions. The report, relayed by Lebanon Debate, said official PMF salaries were not affected.

  2. Kata'ib Hezbollah announces suspension of military operations

    Statement

    Leader Ahmad al-Hamidawi orders fighters to halt attacks except against hostile aircraft, pending government air defenses.

  3. US warns Baghdad over armed groups

    Diplomacy

    Washington sent Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi a letter warning that failure to settle the dispute with armed groups could lead to Iraq being placed on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list, Channel8 reported, citing a source. Al-Zaidi called an urgent Coordination Framework meeting, and its leaders backed legal measures against factions that reject the agreement.

  4. Last US troops leave Erbil air base

    Withdrawal

    US military completes withdrawal from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission against the Islamic State.

  5. Cabinet approves PMF organizational bill

    Legislation

    The cabinet approved an 18-article bill on the Popular Mobilization Forces' structure and leadership and sent it to parliament. The bill would give the PMF dedicated legislation and a firmer claim on the national budget.

  6. Baghdad and Washington agree to end mission

    Agreement

    Iraq and the US decide to end the coalition mission, setting the stage for withdrawal.

  7. ISIS defeated in Syria

    Military

    Coalition forces defeat the Islamic State in Syria, though pockets of jihadists remain.

  8. ISIS defeated in Iraq

    Military

    Coalition and Iraqi forces defeat the Islamic State as an organized military threat in Iraq.

  9. US-led coalition deploys to Iraq

    Deployment

    International coalition begins mission to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Scenarios

1

Militias keep weapons, disarmament deadline slips

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The National, Business Standard

Kata'ib Hezbollah and other hardline factions refuse to disarm, and the June 2027 deadline passes without major progress. The Iraqi government lacks the leverage to force compliance, and the militias remain armed outside state control.

2

Partial disarmament: some groups comply, hardliners don't

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The National

Some militias follow Asaib Ahl Al Haq and Kataib Imam Ali in placing weapons under state authority, but Kata'ib Hezbollah and other hardliners hold out. The government claims progress while the most powerful groups remain armed.

3

Disarmament deal reached before deadline

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: L'Orient Today

The Iraqi government and militias reach a negotiated agreement on weapons regulation, possibly through the quadripartite committee. Kata'ib Hezbollah's suspension of operations could be a first step toward a broader deal.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

December 2011

US withdrawal from Iraq (2011)

US troops left Iraq in December 2011 after failing to reach a status of forces agreement. Iran-backed militias remained armed and influential.

Then

A security vacuum emerged as Iraqi forces struggled to maintain order.

Now

ISIS seized large parts of Iraq in 2014, forcing US troops to return.

Why this matters now

Shows the risk of withdrawing without disarming militias, a scenario Iraq may now face again.

April 2005

Lebanon's Hezbollah after Syrian withdrawal (2005)

Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon after 29 years of occupation. Hezbollah kept its weapons despite UN Resolution 1559 calling for disarmament.

Then

Hezbollah remained the dominant armed force in Lebanon.

Now

The group's weapons became a permanent feature of Lebanese politics and a source of tension with Israel.

Why this matters now

Shows how an Iran-backed militia can maintain weapons after a foreign withdrawal, a model for Iraq's militias.

March-May 2008

Mahdi Army disarmament (2008)

After the Battle of Basra, Moqtada al-Sadr agreed to disarm his Mahdi Army. The militia was later disbanded and reorganized.

Then

Iraqi government asserted control over Basra and other areas.

Now

Sadr's group later reemerged as Saraya al-Salam, which now claims to have placed weapons under state authority.

Why this matters now

Shows a precedent for Iraqi militia disarmament, though Sadr's group is now one of the few that complied.

Sources

(12)
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Middle East Eye L'Orient Today Business Standard The National Iraqi News Shafaq News Video Agency Iraq Atlantic Council Channel8 Iraq Monitor Iran International Kurdistan24