The Iraqi government announced that the weapons of militias will be placed under state authority once foreign forces depart the country at the end of September, according to i24NEWS. The statement reinforces the government's push to assert control over armed groups ahead of the scheduled U.S. military withdrawal.
The Iraqi government announced Monday that the weapons of militias will be subordinated to state authority once foreign forces depart the country at the end of September, according to i24NEWS. The statement marks the latest official position on the fate of armed groups after the scheduled U.S. withdrawal.
As The Zioneer has reported, the Iraqi government has been pushing for disarmament of Iran-backed militias by September 30, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's office issuing an order for factions to surrender their weapons by that date. The U.S. has confirmed it will withdraw all remaining forces from Iraq by the same deadline, ending the international coalition's military mission.
The announcement raises questions about whether the powerful Iran-backed militias, including Kata'ib Hezbollah and the Popular Mobilization Forces, will comply with the government's demand. Previous ultimatums have been met with resistance, and some groups have issued their own counter-ultimatums to the government.
The development is part of a broader regional shift as Iraq seeks to transition from a security partnership with the U.S. to an economic one, while Iran's influence through proxy militias remains a central challenge.
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