Gone underground: Fears among Shiite militias in Iraq of renewed strikes

Out of fear of renewed strikes: Security sources in Baghdad told the Qatari newspaper 'Al-Araby Al-Jadeed' today that Shiite militias have redeployed, as part of which they evacuated headquarters and moved to less visible sites.

The preparations come following recent strikes by the US and Saudi Arabia against militia sites, in response to launches by the militias toward energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. According to observers, the current move indicates preparation for a more complicated security phase, despite the Iraqi government's efforts to contain the crisis and prevent a slide into a new regional conflict.

A senior Iraqi security official stated that in the days following the strikes, the militias initiated rapid measures to evacuate headquarters and transfer weapons and sensitive equipment. Furthermore, the militias reduced the number of their members at known sites in order to prepare for new strikes.

According to the Iraqi official, the redeployment actions also included the transfer of a number of senior officials and members to alternative sites, and the use of small offices in apartments in residential areas. He added that some of the militias' formations turned to integration or deployment within Iraqi security forces' bases. All this, with the aim of reducing the chance of strikes.

Following this, the source noted that these measures reflect the ongoing fear of the pro-Iranian militias of further strikes. According to him, Iraq's security apparatuses continue to monitor the militias' activities to prevent strikes from Iraqi territory and new confrontations, which could drag the Arab country into a cycle of regional escalation.