ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – An umbrella group of Iran-backed Shiite militias on Wednesday warned it would take action to end the American “occupation” in Iraq, accusing Washington of meddling in Baghdad’s internal affairs and dictating the election and exclusion of officials from government positions.

“Washington continues to interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs. It even determines which political figures are permitted to assume government positions while excluding others,” read the Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee statement.

The group warned it would bear its “legal and moral responsibilities in taking positions befitting the dignity of our people and their legitimate right to end the occupation if they persist in maintaining their presence and imposing their will on the country.”

The US has ramped up efforts to curb Tehran’s influence in Iraq, particularly by targeting Iran-backed militias as well as financial entities and networks that finance the militias and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Most recently, US President Donald Trump warned Iraq against electing controversial Shiite leader Nouri al-Maliki as the country’s next prime minister. The move was seen by a majority of Shiite armed factions and political movements, including Maliki, as interference in the country’s domestic political affairs.

Maliki previously served two terms as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, stepping down during his second term after major security setbacks linked to the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) and corruption allegations.

His tenure also saw him draw the ire of Washington over his perceived closeness to Iran and for allowing Tehran to increase its influence in the country.

The Shiite amalgam further slammed the violations of Iraqi airspace, citing security concerns and a “clear assault” on the country’s sovereignty.

In June 2025, the United States backed Israeli airstrikes against Iran as part of a broader military operation that lasted nearly two weeks, now known as the 12-Day War. The strikes were carried out through Iraqi airspace en route to target Iran.

The Iraqi parliament held an extraordinary meeting following the strikes, voicing its “absolute rejection” of the use of Iraq’s airspace to carry out attacks on Iraq’s neighbors.