Driven by the pressures of war, Iran gives its field commanders more power over militias in Iraq

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces attend a funeral for colleagues who were killed in a U.S. airstrike in Anbar, in Najaf, Iraq, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil, File) 2026-04-21T06:11:56Z BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran has granted its commanders greater autonomy over militias in Iraq , allowing some groups to carry out operations without Tehran’s approval, a shift driven by the pressures of the war , three militia members and two other officials told The Associated Press. Many Iran-backed militias are funded through the Iraqi state budget and embedded within the security apparatus, drawing criticism from the United States and other countries that have borne the brunt of their attacks and say Baghdad has failed to take a tougher stance. Despite mounting pressure from the U.S., Baghdad has struggled to contain or deter the groups. The most hard-line factions now operate under Iranian advisers using a decentralized command structure, the five officials told AP, each on condition of anonymity to speak freely about sensitive matters. “The various forces have been granted the authority to operate according to their own field assessments without referring back to a central command,” said one militia official, who didn’t have permission to speak publicly. The war in the Middle East has exposed the fragility of Iraq’s state institutions and their limited ability to restrain these groups. A parallel confrontation between Washington and the militias has deepened the crisis, with factions acting as an extension of Iran’s regional campaign and escalating attacks on U.S. assets in Iraq before a tenuous ceasefire deal was reached in April. Even if the ceasefire agreement holds, Washington is expected to intensify efforts against the groups militarily and politically, particularly as they gain latitude to operate more independently, officials and experts said. On Friday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on seven commanders and senior members of four hard-line Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups. (