Question: Asharq Al-Awsat published on its website on 4 August 2026: “The Iraqi government finds itself facing a highly sensitive equation, experiencing political and security paralysis between Washington's demands to disarm the factions and the deeply entrenched Iranian influence within Iraqi political, security, and economic institutions. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) had announced on 29/7/2026, that at least 20 PMF members were killed and 32 others wounded in attacks launched by American and Saudi fighter jets targeting official PMF headquarters in several Iraqi provinces.” (Asharq Al-Awsat, 4/8/2026). “The United States and Saudi Arabia had launched a joint attack on what they claimed were sites belonging to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.” (Al-Hurra, 31/7/2026). This was carried out after Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi returned from an official visit to the United States! What is behind all of the above at this particular time? Has America's grip on Iraq tightened even further?