Iraq shifts its rhetoric on arms restriction and distances militias from the Saudi border
Amid growing fears of a Shia-Shia clash in Iraq, the government led by Prime Minister Ali al-Idi is facing a new test regarding the state’s monopoly on weapons. Official discourse is shifting from a policy of “disarming and handing over weapons to the state” to “regulating weapons,” with proposals to change the deadline set for September 30, particularly given the difficulties in negotiations with factions opposing this direction.
Two days after government spokesperson Haider al-Abadi confirmed that “September 30 is the withdrawal date for US forces from Iraq, not the final deadline for militias to disarm,” Al Arabiya al-Hadath reported today that the committee formed by the Coordination Framework continues its talks with factions refusing to hand over their weapons, notably Kata’ib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba. However, direct meetings with key leaders are facing obstacles, prompting the transmission of messages and waiting for responses that may take hours or days.
The committee, which includes Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri and former prime ministers Mohammed al-Sudani and Nouri al-Maliki, is discussing a proposal to make September 30 not a final deadline for handing over weapons, but rather to regulate them by disclosing the types and quantities of weapons held by the militias, identifying their headquarters to the government, and freezing their armed activities for two years. This approach is supported by Tehran, while Washington is pushing for the actual handover of weapons and verifying whether the militias have fully surrendered them to the state.
Meanwhile, al-Idi is negotiating with five factions: Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Iraqi Kata’ib Hezbollah, Saraya Awliya al-Dam, and Ashab al-Kahf. At the same time, Saraya al-Salam and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib Imam Ali have announced the handover of their weapons to the state and their integration into civilian work.
In response, Hammad al-Hamoudi, head of Iraq’s Supreme Islamic Council, warned against attempts to ignite a Shia-Shia war, calling for the construction of a national armed force free from political influences. He also emphasized the importance of Ammar al-Hakim, who stressed the necessity of placing weapons under state control, considering that the handover of militia weapons should be to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), as it is an official state institution.
Alongside the weapons file, Iraq has strengthened its military presence on the border with Saudi Arabia, following al-Idi’s insistence on preventing any threat originating from Iraqi territory toward neighboring countries and establishing deterrent mechanisms to prevent the recurrence of violations, thereby enhancing Iraq’s sovereignty and the principle of good neighborliness.
Yahya Rasoul, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, told Rudaw network that an operations command for the “Badia” (desert region) has been formed, which moved on its first day of duty to an area near the Saudi border, where it will be stationed. Rasoul added, “The deployment of this command aims to ensure the protection of the southern and western borders and prevent any attempt to target neighboring countries.”
Al Arab al-Jadeed reported that a senior Iraqi official stated that three army brigades have completed their deployment within the Badia operations command in Salman Badia, Busayyah, and the Shabaka area, with reconnaissance aircraft participating in border monitoring. The army has also taken over positions previously controlled by armed factions, including Kata’ib Hezbollah and Nujaba, in a move aimed at tightening control over the area, preventing the transfer or concealment of weapons and drones, and stopping the use of Iraqi territory to carry out attacks against Saudi Arabia or any other neighboring country.
