At a Glance 

• Iraqi lawmaker claims the September 30 target is unrealistic.
• Rushing the disarmament process risks triggering active armed clashes.
• Some factions have agreed to hand over weapons, while others defy the mandate. 

An Iraqi Member of Parliament stated that the process of restricting weapons to state control is unlikely to conclude by the end of September, warning that rushing the disarmament initiative could trigger armed conflict.

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Key Statements and Focus Areas

• Lawmaker Ahmed al-Moussawi told Channel8: "The issue of restricting weapons to state control is a sensitive one that requires time, and external parties must not be permitted to pressure the government."
• He stressed that preventing foreign entities from pressuring the Iraqi government remains a priority.

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Al-Moussawi emphasized that the process of restricting weapons to state control is a sensitive issue that requires time. 

According to al-Moussawi, the factions currently holding weapons say that they still have their justifications intact. He noted that these individuals previously defended Iraq's sovereignty and made sacrifices for the country.

Following the 37th regular meeting of the ⁠State Administration Coalition hosted by Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, the ruling alliance issued a final warning.

After September 30, any independent armed activity outside government framework will be treated as an outlawed violation and prosecuted under the federal Anti-Terrorism Law. 

FYI

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's administration is enforcing a strict September 30, 2026, deadline to bring all independent firearms under state control. 

Major paramilitary groups, including Saraya al-Salam, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib al-Imam Ali, have agreed to comply and are surrendering their heavy weapons. 

These complying factions are transferring their arsenals into the state-regulated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) framework under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. 

However, some factions like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba openly defy the mandate, arguing their weapons are essential to defend the country's sovereignty.

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