Iranian Proxy Militias in Iraq Fail to Mobilize
Iran's Iraqi proxy network has largely failed to enter the conflict with the United States and Israel despite decades of Iranian funding and leadership.
Iranian proxy militias in Iraq have failed to mobilize in force during a recent war involving the United States and Israel. Despite decades of investment by Iran, many Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitaries have remained on the sidelines. The Islamic Resistance of Iraq claimed over two dozen attacks, including drone strikes in Erbil, but Kurdish officials report that most missiles originated directly from Iran and caused minimal damage.
Analysts attribute this reluctance to several strategic failures. The 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Syria severed a critical land supply line for weapons and fighters. Furthermore, the deaths of key coordinators such as Qassem Soleimani, Hassan Nasrallah, and most recently Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — killed during a U.S.-Israeli assault on Tehran — have left the regional Axis of Resistance crippled.
Internal political and economic shifts have also eroded loyalty to the Islamic Republic. Many militia commanders have transitioned into wealthy Iraqi political and business figures. For example, U.S.-sanctioned leader Qais al-Khazali declined to call for arms, instead urging supporters to show their anger by wearing black while seeking engagement with Western officials. Security officials warn, however, that these proxies could still enter the conflict if the war escalates or if Shi'ite holy sites are targeted.
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