The security situation in Anbar, Iraq’s largest and least populated province, is pivotal for the nation’s energy self-sufficiency and its diplomatic ties with Syria and the US. After the Islamic State’s expulsion nearly nine years ago, Iran-backed Shia factions continue to hold significant power in this predominantly Sunni region, with some groups refusing to disarm.
Local residents have noted a decrease in drug trafficking following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, attributing this change to reduced influence from Iran-aligned militias, although some factions within the Popular Mobilization Units remain active but are seen as relatively manageable by the locals.
