It appears that the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have extended their attacks to include Iraqi state institutions. The Iranian-backed militias have carried out hundreds of attacks since February 28, when the US and Israeli strikes began on Iran.
The militias, many of which are part of the Iraqi government’s paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces, have been attacking American facilities and targeting the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq.
Now, it appears they have also targeted the intelligence service of Iraq in Baghdad, harming personnel at the site. The Iraqi National Intelligence Service is an important institution. The militias likely view it as closely linked with the US. An INIS officer was killed in the recent attack, according to reports from Iraq.
The INIS said, “At 10 a.m. this Saturday, March 21, 2026, the perimeter of the National Intelligence Agency’s site in Baghdad was subjected to a terrorist targeting carried out by outlaw entities, resulting in the martyrdom of an officer, in a desperate attempt aimed at deterring the agency from performing its professional role.”
The INIS went on to note that “the agency affirms its continued fulfillment of its national duties and emphasizes that these terrorist practices only increase its resolve and determination to pursue the perpetrators and those responsible for them until they are apprehended and brought before the courts to receive their just punishment.”
Attack reflects tensions over US ties
The Washington Post’s Mustafa Salim quoted Ramzy Mardini, an affiliate of Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation, in a post on X/Twitter about the attack.
“There’s an entrenched perception among Iraq’s militias that INIS is a CIA cut-out and remains an institution deeply tied to the US since it was created in 2004. Even after [Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-] Sudani carried out purges of the organization when he entered office, there are still segments of the organization that have maintained ties to the CIA, particularly on the anti-ISIS campaign.
“This attack is best understood as a coercive signal, intended to deter intelligence cooperation with the US military going forward. In an active wartime condition, any internal collaboration would be considered a direct threat to the militias and their operational security,” Mardini said.
Iraqi government signals support for PMF
On Thursday, Sudani paid a visit to the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Authority, where he was received by its leaders.
He met Falih Faisal Al-Fayyad, the chairman of the Popular Mobilization Commission.
“During the visit, his excellency affirmed that the government cannot tolerate any targeting directed at the fighters from the sons of the Popular Mobilization Authority and the rest of the branches and formations of our armed forces, praising the role of the mobilization and its great sacrifices that contributed to protecting Iraq and enhancing its sovereignty and independence, while expressing his full support for this essential force within our security forces,” Sudani’s office said.
US warns citizens to leave Iraq
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Baghdad has continued to warn American citizens in Iraq.
“Iran-aligned terrorist militias have conducted widespread attacks on US citizens and targets associated with the United States throughout Iraq, including the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. US citizens should leave Iraq now,” the embassy wrote on Saturday.
On Wednesday, the embassy noted, “Iran-aligned terrorist militias have repeatedly attacked the International Zone in central Baghdad. The International Zone remains closed, with limited exceptions. There have also been repeated attacks in the area around the Erbil International Airport and US Consulate General Erbil.”
“Do not attempt to come to the embassy in Baghdad or the consulate general in Erbil in light of the ongoing risk of missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace,” the embassy warned.