Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly created new secret groups in Iraq to launch attacks on Gulf countries that host American military forces, according to eight Iraqi sources cited by Reuters. These groups were formed outside the existing militia structure and report directly to the IRGC. Sources said the move is aimed at avoiding detection while allowing Iran to maintain its influence in the region.

According to three Iraqi sources, three or four separate cells have been established. Each group consists of around 10 highly trained Iraqi Shi'ite fighters. Between April 20 and May 17, these cells allegedly carried out at least seven drone attacks from desert areas near the southern Iraqi cities of Basra and Samawa. The attacks targeted locations in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Several members of these new groups were reportedly recruited from Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of hardline Shi'ite factions with thousands of fighters. However, the newly formed cells do not operate under the coalition's command structure. Instead, they answer directly to the IRGC. Iraqi military officials, a security official and militia commanders provided the information.

The creation of these groups signals a change in Iran's regional strategy. According to militia commanders, Iran is trying to preserve its ability to project power across the Middle East at a time when many of its proxy groups have weakened and its own military and economic resources are under pressure.

Iraq remains an important part of Iran's regional network known as the "Axis of Resistance." This alliance stretches across Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. Many Iraqi militias maintain close ties with Tehran and have long been viewed as a key part of Iran's influence in the region.

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, groups operating under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq banner have claimed responsibility for dozens of drone and rocket attacks against American targets in Iraq. These attacks have triggered retaliatory U.S. airstrikes. Despite this, there has not been a large-scale mobilisation of Iran-backed militias within Iraq.

Several major Shi'ite factions in Iraq have spent the past year indicating that they are prepared to disarm and focus more on domestic politics. Their goal is to avoid a broader confrontation with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Iraqi lawmakers and military experts believe this shift may have encouraged the IRGC to establish groups that operate under its direct control.

Two prominent factions, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the Imam Ali Brigades, announced this month that they would begin handing over their weapons to Iraqi authorities. The decision followed repeated American warnings to Baghdad to dismantle armed groups operating outside state control.

"The newer groups established by the IRGC appear smaller, more ideologically hardened and more tightly controlled, reflecting Iran's need to conserve resources amid economic strain," said Bahadli, who is an expert on Shi'ite armed groups.

The recently signed interim agreement between the United States and Iran to end the conflict has not addressed Tehran's support for regional proxy groups. The agreement was signed on Wednesday and is expected to lead to further negotiations on major issues, including Iran's nuclear programme. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that support for "resistance groups" is not open for discussion.

Iran's foreign ministry and its missions to the United Nations in New York and Geneva did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters regarding the report.

The U.S. State Department reiterated "expectations that the Iraqi government take immediate measures to dismantle all the tools of Iran's destabilising activities in Iraq, to include the IRGC and Iran-aligned terrorist militias in Iraq."

On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met U.S. envoy Tom Barrack. Both sides discussed plans to ensure "the complete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups" operating outside state authority. They also discussed measures to ensure "Iraqi territory cannot be used by any side to threaten regional peace," according to a joint statement.

The governments of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not respond to requests for comment.

The conflict has already affected the Gulf region's energy sector. Disruptions to oil and gas supplies have increased inflation. Tehran responded to U.S.-Israeli attacks by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passes. Iran also launched a large campaign of drone and missile attacks against Gulf states.

Iraqi security sources said the newly formed groups carried out at least three drone attacks against Kuwait, two against Saudi Arabia and two against the UAE. The information was based on human intelligence, intercepted communications and evidence collected from launch sites.

Among the targets was Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base, where U.S. troops are stationed. Another reported target was a military terminal at Kuwait International Airport. Iraqi officials said attacks directed at Saudi Arabia and the UAE were intercepted before reaching their intended targets. Reuters could not independently verify these claims.

Iraqi officials believe the IRGC created these groups to maintain plausible deniability. The strategy could help protect larger Iran-backed militias from blame and reduce pressure on Baghdad to disarm them.

Security forces in Iraq are still trying to uncover the command structure behind these cells. Officials said the groups include highly skilled drone operators and communications specialists.

Iran has spent decades building alliances across the region. However, that network has suffered major setbacks since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel has heavily targeted Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Houthi movement in Yemen has also faced repeated U.S. and British strikes. The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 further weakened Iran's regional position by cutting an important supply route used by Iraqi militias.

Experts believe Iran is now relying on a smaller number of highly committed fighters rather than maintaining large, expensive militia networks. "More radicalised cadres willing to operate with leaner financial support, prioritising loyalty, deniability and operational impact over mass recruitment," said Bahadli.

The emergence of these groups presents an early challenge for Prime Minister Zaidi, who took office last month. His government faces the difficult task of balancing relations with both Washington and Tehran. Any attacks launched from Iraqi territory could also damage Baghdad's improving ties with Gulf countries.

Relations between Iraq and Gulf states have gradually improved in recent years after decades of tension following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. However, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE reportedly summoned Iraqi diplomats in April to protest the recent drone strikes.

Iraqi authorities are also investigating whether one of the groups was involved in a May 17 drone attack that caused a fire at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. On the same day, Saudi Arabia announced that it had intercepted three drones entering its airspace from Iraq. Iraqi officials believe the attack was carried out by one of the newly formed groups.

Prime Minister Zaidi condemned both incidents and described them as criminal acts. He also promised a joint investigation with Gulf countries to determine whether Iraqi territory had been used to launch the attacks. Iraqi officials have not yet provided further details on the progress of the inquiry.