US labels four Iraqi factions as “terrorist groups” in escalation against Iran-aligned militias – Middle East Monitor

The US State Department on Wednesday formally designated four Iraqi factions as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), escalating its campaign against groups it accuses of aligning with Iran.

The groups named are Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib Imam Ali. All four had previously been blacklisted as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, but the new designation carries harsher restrictions and…