Trump’s war spills into Iraq

First Published: Mar 14, 2026

A member of Kataeb Hezbollah was killed by an air-strike and now explosions have been heard in Baghdad.

Kataeb Hezbollah is hardline Shia militia that is heavily backed by Iran. And RUMINT on the explosions mark them as Shia militias actions.

The rise of Shia and Iranian backed militias after Zarqawi bombed the al-Askari Mosque in ‘06 was a major recruiting drive for AQIZ. This recruit increase helped set the stage for the first Islamic State declaration.

The recruitment didn’t just increase AQIZ/ISI’s ranks other Sunni / Salafist groups swelled, 1920 Revolutionary Brigades, Ansar al-Sunnah, Ansar al-Islam, Jaysh al-Islami, and al-Naqshbandi for examples.

Increased Shia milita activity will lead to increase Salafist milita activity. And as long as there is a war with Iran the Shia militias will be increasing activity.

The war with Iran may send Iraq’s stability back to 2006….