U.S. Warns of Terrorist Plots: Embassy Accuses Government Elements of Covering for Militias

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a strongly worded warning on Monday (April 20, 2026) regarding continuing threats posed by Iran-backed militias against American citizens and their facilities throughout Iraq. In an unprecedented accusation, the embassy noted that "some elements associated with the Iraqi government continue to provide political, financial, and operational cover for these terrorist militias." This warning coincided with new punitive American measures, as the U.S. Treasury Department designated seven commanders from four Iraqi militias as terrorists. This American escalation is considered an indicator of declining trust levels between Washington and Baghdad, especially amid the absence of a permanent government capable of maintaining security and curbing the influence of armed factions.