Iran-backed militias are reportedly considering laying down their arms to avoid President Donald Trump’s ire, ten commanders and Iraqi officials told Reuters.
Due to rising threats from Trump towards Iran, commanders from groups such as Kataib Hezbollah, Nujabaa, Kataib Sayyed al-Shuhada and Ansarullah al-Awfiyaa told Reuters that the U.S.’ escalated pressure has forced them to consider disarmament. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has reportedly given the militias free reign in avoiding a conflict with Israel and the U.S.
Some of the groups have also reportedly evacuated their headquarters in cities like Mosul and Anbar, according to Reuters’ Monday report.
“Trump is ready to take the war with us to worse levels, we know that, and we want to avoid such a bad scenario,” a commander of Kataib Hezbollah, the most powerful Shi’ite militia, who was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive talks alongside other leaders, told Reuters.
Moreover, two Iraqi security officials told Reuters that Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani pushed for the militias of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to disarm. The group contains 10 different Shi’ite Muslim militias numbering around 50,000 strong.
The militias have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on Israeli and U.S. forces, according to Reuters.
U.S. forces have deployed around Iran in the wake of strikes against Houthi rebels, including a handful of B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and a naval strike group led by the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has been working around the clock to strike key Houthi positions.
Houthi attacks have cost international shipping dearly, costing commercial vessels nearly $1 million extra in fuel while adding roughly two weeks of transit time around Africa. Moreover, Houthis have hit U.S. naval vessels around 170 times and counting.
Our dedicated service members of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group are on station, launching continuous operations 24/7 against Iran-backed Houthis…#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/37K8ktC1QB
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 5, 2025
Trump made it clear that Iran would be held responsible for any attacks from Houthi rebels on commercial and military vessels, saying that “consequences will be dire” for Iran if attacks continue.
CENTCOM did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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