"Iranian Commander's Request Leads to Decreased Attacks on US by Iraqi Armed Groups"

Iran's Quds Force commander, Esmail Qaani, visited Baghdad and met with Iran-aligned armed groups, urging them to halt attacks on U.S. forces to avoid escalation. The pause in attacks allowed talks to resume over the future of U.S. troops in Iraq, with the Iraqi government seeking to prevent the country from becoming a battleground for foreign powers. The U.S. asserts Iran's control over armed groups, while Iran says they operate independently. The lull in attacks may be temporary, as some factions vow to resume operations in response to recent killings.