“No Entry” for America: Iraqi PMF Halts U.S. Convoy
Following the U.S. designation of Harakat al-Nujaba as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a significant standoff occurred on Friday, September 19. A combat unit from the 12th Brigade of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), composed of Nujaba fighters, blocked an American military convoy from entering Tarmiyah, a district north of Baghdad.
According to the brigade’s command, which holds formal responsibility for the area’s security, any presence or cooperation with U.S. forces and affiliated entities is categorically rejected. The 12th Brigade emphasized that all its bases operate under the supervision of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office and are legally sanctioned.
This obstruction is seen as a clear signal from resistance factions aiming to curtail U.S. operational reach within Iraq. It conveys a practical message: American presence in zones officially controlled by the PMF will not be tolerated. The brigade’s insistence on its legal mandate seeks to frame the move as a state-sanctioned action, distancing it from any perception of rogue behavior. This is a strategic posture, as resistance groups aim to present themselves as integral components of Iraq’s formal security architecture.
The incident marks a direct field-level confrontation with the United States and could escalate tensions between Washington and Iraqi resistance forces, especially amid recent U.S. moves to blacklist several such groups.
On September 16, the U.S. Department of State issued a statement announcing the addition of four Iraqi resistance groups to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The designated groups include Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib Imam Ali.
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