Defectors from the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Asaib Ahl al Haq announced the creation of a new armed faction with significant Iranian backing, according to reporting by The Washington Post on September 30. The development highlights the difficulties Iraq’s federal government faces in verifying the disarmament of militias it has long relied on.

Iraqi officials told the Post that Asaib Ahl al Haq transferred only half of its weapons stockpile to state authorities, with the remainder used by defectors to establish the new group. The militia had previously declared its intention to disarm on June 2, a move widely seen as reflecting political calculations by its leader, Qais al Khazali. The split aligns with earlier assessments by the Institute for the Study of War and the Critical Threats Project of internal fractures within Iran-aligned militias over disarmament.

The new faction appears to operate under direct command from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to U.S. and regional security assessments. It has coordinated attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure with the Houthi movement in Yemen, continuing a pattern of cross-border operations that began in late July 2026. U.S. and partner intelligence have assessed that Iran’s Quds Force facilitated these attacks, which targeted oil facilities and commercial sites in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The formation of the group coincides with stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States over the status of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. On September 30, Iran confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had received a U.S. response to a ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar. The proposal, first submitted on September 16, outlined a seven-day plan to reopen the strait and resume nuclear talks in exchange for U.S. steps toward sanctions relief. President Donald Trump publicly rejected the proposal on September 26, though Axios reported that Qatari intermediaries had discussed a compromise framework with Iranian officials.

Saudi-led coalition forces conducted airstrikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen’s Amran and Saada governorates on September 30, targeting missile launch sites and communications infrastructure. Analysts believe the strikes aim to degrade the Houthis’ capacity to attack Saudi territory, particularly oil infrastructure such as the East-West Pipeline, which resumed operations on September 22 after repairs. The attacks reflect a broader strategy by Saudi and Yemeni government forces to weaken Houthi command structures and logistics networks.

Several other Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, including Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, have refused to disarm despite the U.S. withdrawal of coalition forces on September 30. These groups have maintained their armed status, citing the need for air defense systems to counter perceived threats. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani recently extended the deadline for militia disarmament to June 2027, acknowledging the lack of progress toward full compliance.

The situation underscores the challenges Iraq faces in asserting control over armed non-state actors, many of which maintain ties to external powers. While the Iraqi government has sought to acquire South Korean air defense systems to bolster its capabilities, Iranian influence remains a significant factor in the country’s security landscape.