US summons Iraqi ambassador, demands dismantling of Iran-aligned militias

BAGHDAD — The United States summoned Iraq’s ambassador in Washington Nizar Khirullah on Thursday and demanded that Baghdad “immediately take all measures to dismantle the Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq,” following what it described as an ambush of U.S. diplomats in Baghdad on April 8.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau expressed “strong condemnation of the egregious terrorist attacks” launched from Iraqi territory against U.S. diplomatic personnel and facilities, saying the April 8 ambush followed “hundreds” of attacks in recent weeks targeting U.S. citizens, diplomatic facilities and commercial interests, as well as Iraqi institutions, civilians and neighboring countries.

While acknowledging Iraqi Security Forces’ efforts to respond, Landau said “the Iraqi government’s failure to prevent these attacks” has strained bilateral relations. He added that “some elements associated with the Iraqi government continue to actively provide political, financial, and operational cover for the militias,” which he said “adversely impacts the U.S.-Iraq relationship.”

“The United States will not tolerate attacks on U.S. interests,” Landau said.

Since the regional war began in late February, Iran-aligned factions under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella — including Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba — have carried out repeated drone, rocket and missile attacks on U.S. military, diplomatic and associated targets in Baghdad and in the Kurdistan Region. The United States has simultaneously carried out airstrikes targeting PMF-linked positions across multiple Iraqi governorates, killing dozens of fighters.