By Micah Jonah
January 24, 2026
A U.S. appeals court on Friday reinstated a lawsuit alleging that major pharmaceutical and medical-device companies provided cash and medical supplies that indirectly funded terrorism in Iraq, resulting in injuries and deaths of American troops and civilians.
The ruling affects global companies including AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare USA, and F. Hoffmann‑La Roche. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2017, claims these companies made corrupt payments to Jaysh al‑Mahdi, a militia sponsored by Hezbollah, in order to secure contracts from Iraq’s Health Ministry between 2005 and 2011.
Circuit Judge Cornelia Pillard, writing for the three-judge panel, noted that plaintiffs had shown sufficient evidence that the companies knowingly facilitated the militia’s operations. “Defendants’ participation was conscious, voluntary, and culpable,” the ruling said.
The companies expressed disappointment, stating they were not responsible for the militia’s actions and that the claims were baseless. They indicated they are reviewing legal options to challenge the court’s decision.
Previously, the case was dismissed in 2020, revived by the D.C. Circuit in 2022, and remanded for reconsideration following a Supreme Court ruling related to a separate case involving Twitter. The appeals court clarified that the Twitter decision did not shield these companies from liability, as their alleged assistance was not passive.
The lawsuit, filed under the U.S. Anti‑Terrorism Act, seeks unspecified damages on behalf of affected service members and civilians.
Case Reference: Joshua Atchley et al v. AstraZeneca UK Limited et al, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, No. 20-7077.
