By Anas al-Bar | 2025-08-07

Iran-backed Kataib Hizbullah stormed Baghdad's Dora Agriculture Department July 27, in a deadly assault that challenged Iraqi state authority and prompted swift government condemnation and a high-level investigation.

The deadly clash, which left a civilian, a police officer and a militiaman dead and sparked a panic, erupted when Kataib Hizbullah gunmen attempted to seize the government building in protest of a new director's appointment.

Police arrested 14 of the assailants, and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani convened an emergency security meeting, declaring that "no one has the right to replace the state or its authorities, and no party is above the law."

The government formed a high-level committee to investigate how an armed force acted without orders and attempted to control a state institution.

The Security Media Cell condemned the incident as a "serious violation of state institutions," while the Ministry of Interior warned security services will not tolerate any attempt to destabilize security or undermine the state.

The US Embassy in Iraq directly implicated Kataib Hizbullah and called for the perpetrators and their leaders to be brought to justice "without delay."

It stressed that "accountability is essential to maintaining the rule of law and preventing the recurrence of violence."

'Illegitimate forces'

Kataib Hizbullah and ideologically linked groups are "illegitimate forces," Iraqi Center for Strategic Studies director Ghazi Faisal Hussein told Al-Fassel.

The militia's influence and uncontrolled weapons pose "a serious threat to security and the national interest," he said.

"Attacking an official institution and clashing with security forces is a violation for which it must be held accountable," he added.

"We cannot accept any party that considers itself to be above the law and the constitution and sparks security concerns."

Hussein emphasized the danger of allowing armed groups that "receive orders and instructions from across the border to undermine the country's stability and threaten the lives of its citizens" to operate with impunity.

He blamed Iran-backed militias for recent drone attacks targeting military camps, oil facilities and civilian installations as "malicious plans by Iranian proxies to undermine sovereignty and subject the state to their hegemony."

A Baghdad resident, who spoke to Al-Fassel on condition that he remain anonymous, said the militia's actions seem like retaliation against the government's success in maintaining security and avoiding regional conflicts.

"We are confident in the ability of the security services and investigators to bring all those indicted to justice and put an end to the militias' activities," he said.