In a quest to root out Islamic State group hideouts over the summer, Iraqi forces on the ground cleared nearly 90 villages across a notoriously unruly northern province. But the much-touted operation still relied heavily on U.S. intelligence, coalition flights and planning assistance.

The nascent Zulfiqar Forces, part of the Iranian-backed ‘Islamic Resistance in Iraq,’ recently published a video claiming responsibility for an Aug. 27 rocket attack against the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.