IRGC Created Secret Iraqi Militia Cells to Target Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE

TEHRAN, Jun 19: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) established covert armed cells in Iraq to carry out drone attacks against Gulf Arab states hosting US forces, Reuters reported, citing eight Iraqi sources.

According to the report, the newly formed groups conducted at least seven drone attacks between April 20 and May 17, targeting locations in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The attacks were launched from desert areas near Basra and Samawa, according to three sources cited by Reuters.

The cells reportedly consisted of around 10 elite Iraqi Shiite fighters each, with some members linked to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella group but operating outside its normal command structure. The groups allegedly reported directly to the IRGC rather than to established Iraqi militia leadership.

Reuters said the creation of smaller, tightly controlled units reflected an Iranian effort to maintain regional strike capabilities as its allied groups face pressure and Tehran deals with economic and military constraints.

“The newer groups established by the IRGC appear smaller, more ideologically hardened and more tightly controlled,” retired Iraqi army general Jasim al-Bahadli told Reuters.

The report said the alleged attacks included three drone strikes targeting Kuwait, two against Saudi Arabia and two aimed at the UAE. Reported targets included Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, where US forces are stationed, and a military terminal at Kuwait International Airport. Reuters said it was unable to verify the accounts independently.

The revelations come after the United States and Iran signed an interim agreement aimed at ending the war and opening negotiations on issues including Tehran’s nuclear program. However, the agreement does not cover Iran’s support for regional armed groups, an issue Iranian officials have said is not open for discussion.

The US State Department told Reuters that Iraq must take immediate action to dismantle destabilizing networks linked to Iran, including IRGC-backed groups. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has also discussed efforts with US envoy Tom Barrack to disarm armed groups operating outside state control and prevent Iraqi territory from being used to threaten regional security, according to a joint statement cited in the report.