Two of Iraq's most powerful Iran-backed militias announced on Tuesday that they would begin handing over their weapons to the authorities, marking a significant step in the new government's efforts to control militias that have long operated independently despite being nominally under state command.
Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Forms Committee for Disarmament
One of the groups, Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, stated that it has formed a committee to oversee the transfer, inventory its fighters, weapons, and equipment, and coordinate with the commander-in-chief of Iraq's armed forces. The group framed the decision as a response to calls from Iraq's top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary bloc that dominates Iraqi politics.
Imam Ali Brigades Follows Suit
The second group, the Imam Ali Brigades, made a similar announcement, stating that the time has come “to build a strong state with full sovereignty.” It added that its goal is to ensure that weapons are held only by the state and to help strengthen state institutions.
Context of Regional Conflict
The war in the Middle East, which the United States and Israel launched on February 28 with strikes on Iran, has exposed the fragility of Iraq's state institutions and their limited ability to restrain Iran-backed groups. A parallel confrontation between Washington and the militias has deepened the crisis, with factions acting as an extension of Iran's regional campaign and escalating attacks on US assets in Iraq before a tenuous ceasefire deal was reached in April.
Sadr's Militia Also Moves to Integrate
A week ago, influential Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr announced that his Saraya Al-Salam militia, also known as the Peace Brigades, would split from his political movement and integrate into state institutions.
Prime Minister's Efforts to Assert Authority
Under pressure from Washington, Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has been working to assert state authority over weapons. Al-Zaidi, a 40-year-old banker sworn in last month, has made a state monopoly on arms a centerpiece of his program. The Trump administration has warned against having any Iraqi government influenced by Iran-linked factions and has tied defense cooperation and funding to efforts to curb them.
Funding and Embedded Militias
Many Iran-backed militias are funded through the Iraqi state budget and embedded within the security apparatus, although not under the government's control. This has drawn criticism from the US and other countries that have borne the brunt of attacks by the militias and which say Baghdad has failed to take a tougher stance on armed groups.
Differing Stances Among Militias
Several armed factions aligned with Iraq's Coordination Framework have taken a different stance on efforts to bring weapons under state control. Two important groups, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Al-Nujaba, have rejected disarmament, tying the issue to Iraq's sovereignty and the presence of foreign troops. Kataib Hezbollah welcomed moves by other factions to place weapons under state authority but said its own armed activity will continue as part of what it describes as “resistance work.” In a recent statement attributed to its Abu Mujahid Al-Assaf social media channel, the group said it would offer to coordinate with the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces — a state-backed umbrella of mostly Shiite armed groups — rather than surrender its arms.
Popular Mobilization Forces Background
The Popular Mobilization Forces was formed in 2014 to fight the Sunni militant Daesh group, which at the time had seized a wide swath of Iraqi territory. Many of its groups still keep their own command and ties to Iran.
