US aircraft breached Iraqi sky 171 times after coalition withdrawal

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has documented 171 instances of United States fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft entering Iraqi airspace since the US-led coalition ended its mission on September 30. The count covers the period from September 30 through Friday, October 23. The umbrella group of Iran-backed militias issued the figures while tensions rise over Baghdad's push to consolidate weapons under state control.

The coalition's formal departure marked the end of a military operation that began after the 2014 surge in regional conflict. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has used this transition to pressure armed factions to surrender their arsenals. The government set a deadline of June 30, 2027, for the process to be complete. Zaidi stated in an interview that no weapons will remain outside the framework of the state by that date.

Militia reactions to the disarmament plan have divided the Iran-backed bloc. Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain opposed to handing over their weapons. In contrast, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have expressed willingness to cooperate with the government's measures. The IRI accused Baghdad of appeasing Washington by reducing commercial flights and closing border crossings with Iran.

The United States State Department issued a travel advisory update on Saturday, citing increased regional threats. The advisory maintained a warning against all travel to Iraq. It noted that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports, could lead to wider escalation. The department stated that the hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area.

The advisory specifically identified threats from armed groups inside Iraq. It noted that terrorists, including ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, conduct attacks against US persons and interests. The State Department cited drones, indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices as common tools. Potential targets include airports, energy infrastructure, hotels, and diplomatic facilities.

Separate intelligence indicates that Washington is concerned about Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats. A memorandum dated Friday from National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that some alleged plots had reached advanced stages. This report follows a reduction in staffing at several embassies amid fears of regional escalation.

In Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a gathering center for the Kurdistan Free Life Party on Saturday. The attack occurred in mountainous areas where the party's armed wing, the Eastern Kurdistan Units, operates. Iran used drones and artillery in the strikes. The Mehr News Agency described the operation as a preemptive strike against members allegedly preparing attacks. These developments occur as Zaidi insists that Iraq will soon be a state free of factions, with weapons exclusively in the hands of Iraqi security forces.