Iraqi armed groups have crossed into Iran in recent weeks to assist Tehran in suppressing ongoing protests, according to a European military source and an Iraqi security source cited by CNN.
The Iraqi security source said that close to 5,000 fighters from influential Iraqi militias entered Iran through two border points in southern Iraq: the Shaib crossing in Maysan province and the Zurbatiya crossing in Wasit province. A European military source separately told CNN that around 800 Shiite fighters traveled from the Iraqi provinces of Diyala, Maysan, and Basra, ostensibly under the cover of religious pilgrimages, to support the Iranian crackdown.
CNN has contacted the Iraqi government and the Iranian embassy in London for official responses.
In a statement released over the weekend, the Iraqi Observatory for Rights and Freedom said that successive groups of Iran-aligned Iraqi fighters have been entering Iran since violent protests began nearly three weeks ago.
A European military assessment reviewed by CNN said the fighters belong to militias loyal to Tehran, including Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and the Badr Organization. These groups function under the broader framework of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
The assessment noted that their presence has been detected in several strategically sensitive locations inside Iran, including cities such as Hamedan, where they have reportedly taken part in suppressing protests.
The deployment of foreign fighters is seen as another sign of the Iranian regime’s vulnerability, as well as its resolve to maintain control despite the heavy human toll of the unrest. According to the assessment, relying on external militias is part of a deliberate security strategy aimed at preventing any potential sympathy or coordination between domestic security forces and protesters.
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Kurdish Separatist Also Attempted to Enter Iran
Armed Kurdish separatist factions have attempted to enter Iran from Iraq in recent days, raising concerns that Iran’s escalating internal unrest is drawing in foreign militants who could further destabilize the broader region, according to reports.
Iranian officials said the attempted crossing occurred amid an extensive crackdown on nationwide protests against the ruling establishment, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spearheading the security response, Reuters reported. Tasnim News Agency also said that armed militia groups operating out of Iraq had crossed into western and northwestern parts of Iran, according to Middle East Monitor.
Reuters earlier cited three sources, including a senior Iranian official, as saying that Turkey’s intelligence service, known as MIT, had warned the IRGC that Kurdish fighters were seeking to cross the Iran-Iraq border. The Iranian official added that clashes erupted following the attempted infiltration and accused the fighters of exploiting the unrest to fuel further instability inside the country.
The current situation in Iran
Tehran is showing tentative signs of returning to normal life, but many Iranians say they remain on edge, fearing possible US military action after weeks of anti-government demonstrations and a harsh security crackdown.
Several Arab countries have helped ease tensions between Washington and Tehran after intensive diplomatic engagements over the past 72 hours, a Gulf official told CNN.
President Donald Trump has not ruled out any course of action, the White House said, warning of “serious consequences” if the killings continue. The US military has also begun repositioning a carrier strike group to West Asia, according to a source.
At least 2,400 protesters have reportedly been killed since the crackdown began, according to a US-based rights organization, while a government-imposed communications blackout has now entered its second week.