At a Glance

• Al-Maliki warns weapons escalation risks a catastrophic civil conflict.
• He said any armed clash will impact the entire state, not just Shia.
• He demands fast-tracking completion of the government cabinet.

Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, stated that resolving the issue of weapons proliferation must be managed carefully, warning that any civil conflict would inflict severe damage not only on Shia but on the state and society as a whole.

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Key Statement and Focus Area

• Al-Maliki stressed that the file of collecting weapons must be resolved far from any complication and confrontation.
• He noted that there must be a national vision to prevent Iraq from becoming an arena for the conflicts of other countries.

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Warning parties and outlining the dangers of armed conflict, al-Maliki stated that transforming the weapons issue into a clash between the government and armed groups will lead to dangerous consequences.

He highlighted that any confrontation would not remain confined to an internal Shia conflict and would have repercussions for everyone.

Al-Maliki also called for expediting the completion of the government cabinet and filling vacant ministerial portfolios, noting that the Prime Minister shares the same objective.

According to al-Maliki, offering critiques of the government's performance does not signify an attempt to overthrow it, but rather aims to rectify its course and resolve issues through dialogue while safeguarding the supreme interests of the state.

FYI

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government previously established a firm September 30 deadline for armed groups to hand over weapons to the state. The timeline is tied directly to the scheduled conclusion of the U.S.-led International Coalition's mission in Iraq. 

al-Zaidi has maintained that restricting weapons exclusively to state institutions is a primary objective of his government to enforce the rule of law. 

Although al-Zaidi warned that non-compliant factions could face terrorism charges, he recently stated that all political forces agree on the core goal and that there is no intention for a military confrontation.

While groups like Saraya al-Salam, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and the Imam Ali Battalions have moved toward compliance, hardline factions including Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada refuse to surrender their weapons, citing a full U.S. military withdrawal.

The government spokesperson told Channel8 earlier that the September 30 deadline, established in 2024 to fulfill commitments for the withdrawal of International Coalition forces, represents a return to normal state frameworks. 

He affirmed that “the Iraqi government, along with all political and social factions, is very far removed from any potential confrontation.”

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