DFOP0018082 Countering Terrorist Recruitment of Central Asian Foreign Workers

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces a competitive funding opportunity to improve law enforcement’s ability to engage productively with individuals repatriated from northeast Syria and Iraq in their countries of origin. This one-year program aims to help law enforcement prevent negative interactions with returnees, reduce local tensions including possible stigmatization, and lower the risk of terrorist radicalization and recidivism. The program will also support more effective monitoring of returnee populations and the establishment of early warning mechanisms for those who may be vulnerable to radicalization or reengagement in terrorist activity. The target audience for this program includes law enforcement agencies and officials in countries receiving repatriated individuals from Syria and Iraq.

The Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces this funding opportunity to protect American economic interests, personnel, and national security by supporting the Government of Iraq’s (GOI) capabilities to counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) threats while simultaneously advancing Iraqi security forces’ capability to protect critical infrastructure. This program should deliver concrete returns for American taxpayers by safeguarding U.S. commercial investments in Iraq’s energy sector and reducing threats to American personnel from Iran and Iran-Aligned Milita Groups (IAMGs). U.S. companies maintain significant investments in Iraqi oil and gas production, representing substantial American economic interests. UAS operated by Iran and IAMGs present a persistent and escalating threat to these American investments and to U.S. personnel operating in Iraq. Recent drone attacks on U.S. facilities in Erbil and Baghdad illustrate IAMGs intent and capabilities to attack American interests. By supporting Iraq’s ability to both defend against hostile UAS and conduct proactive surveillance operations, this program should directly protect American economic assets and reduce risks to American citizens abroad. This program advances critical U.S. national security priorities outlined in the U.S. Department of State Agency Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2026-2030, 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) and National Security Presidential Memorandum-2 (NSPM-2) on Countering Iran and IAMGs by degrading the operational capabilities of their UAS and protecting U.S. interests. This program should be designed to reduce Iraq’s long-term dependency on U.S. taxpayer resources by building sustainable Iraqi civilian law enforcement capabilities to independently protect critical infrastructure, conduct surveillance operations, and respond to UAS threats.

The Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces this funding opportunity to strengthen Iraq’s ability to investigate and respond to terrorist attacks and incursions along the Iraq-Syria border during a critical period of regional transition. This program should deliver concrete returns for American taxpayers by reducing threats to U.S. diplomatic and military facilities, safeguarding American commercial operations, and preventing terrorist attacks that endanger Americans abroad. The proliferation of Iran-aligned militia groups (IAMGs) and continued presence of ISIS in the region have created a fragile security environment with elevated risks of border exploitation for weapons, explosives, and human smuggling. Porous borders enable IAMGs and other terrorist organizations to move personnel, material, and illicit goods that directly threaten U.S. personnel, American commercial interests, and regional stability affecting U.S. security. Recent events illustrate the ongoing threat from IAMGs, who attacked numerous U.S. personnel and facilities in Erbil and Baghdad since February 28. They have historically conducted rocket and drone attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities, military installations, and commercial facilities. By supporting Iraq’s border security capabilities, this program reduces terrorist operational capacity that threatens U.S. interests. This program should be designed to reduce Iraq’s long-term dependency on U.S. taxpayer resources by building sustainable Iraqi civilian law enforcement capabilities to independently respond to attacks and dismantle illicit transit networks. Consistent with the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS)’s principle of “burden-sharing and burden-shifting,” this program should include a train-the-trainer component to enable Iraqi civilian forces to establish an Iraqi-owned training capability, reducing long-term U.S. resource commitments.