US Defense Secretary Hegseth demands disarmament of Iranian-aligned militias in Iraq

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth conditioned the deepening of the U.S.-Iraq security partnership on the Iraqi government's ability to disarm pro-Iranian militias. This demand follows a reported surge of over 600 attacks on U.S. personnel, signaling a shift toward a more coercive posture regarding Iraqi sovereignty and regional proxy influence.