Why Iran’s Proxies in Iraq Are Reluctant to Enter the Latest WarThe Reluctance of Iran’s Iraqi Proxies Amid Escalating ConflictBy John DavisonBackground: Iran’s Proxy Network and Current InactionBAGHDAD, March 6 (Reuters) - Iran has spent decades and billions of dollars preparing foreign proxy fighters like A.J., a commander in a pro-Iranian paramilitary group in Iraq, for a moment just like this. There has been no mass mobilization of Iran's proxies inside Iraq, one of the last redoubts of the Islamic Republic's once-formidable system of alliances stretching from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria to Yemen and Iraq. Recent Attacks and Their Limited ImpactSome pro-Iranian groups in Iraq have claimed attacks in recent days, to be sure. Factors Weakening Iran’s Proxies in IraqLeadership Losses and Shifting PrioritiesA.J., who is from Shi'ite-majority southern Iraq, spoke on condition he not be identified, for fear of being targeted by Israeli or U.S. strikes. During last year's confrontation with Israel, Iran's Revolutionary Guards instructed A.J.

Source: Washington Post March 06, 2026 13:48 UTC