A senior commander in Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) has warned that the United States may soon launch a campaign to assassinate militia leaders, Iraqi media reported on Saturday.

“It is expected that in the near future, by America, an assassination campaign against PMF leaders in Iraq will begin,” the unnamed commander was quoted as saying.

The remarks were tied to what he described as an unannounced understanding between Iraqi militias and Lebanon’s Hezbollah to resist government efforts in Baghdad and Beirut to disarm their respective armed groups. He dismissed the possibility of disarmament, calling it an attack on the “resistance front.”

The commander said PMF units were now on “high alert,” warning that any targeting of their leadership would trigger a strong response and “open the door to a dangerous phase.”

The comments follow reports of unexpected U.S. troop redeployments in Iraq. American forces recently left positions at Ain al-Asad and Victoria bases, moving instead to Erbil, Kuwait, and Jordan. The relocation reportedly occurred ahead of the planned timetable for a phased U.S. withdrawal, which had been set to begin next month under a Baghdad-Washington agreement.

The PMF, an umbrella group of mostly Shi’ite militias, was formally integrated into Iraq’s security forces in 2016 after playing a key role in the fight against Islamic State. However, some factions retain close ties with Iran and have clashed with U.S. forces in the country.

Washington has accused Iran-backed groups of carrying out rocket and drone strikes on U.S. and coalition positions in Iraq. Calls to disarm or reduce the influence of the militias have faced resistance, with PMF leaders warning that such steps could threaten Iraq’s stability.