Iraq says three militia groups agree to disarm, sets June 2027 deadline

BAGHDAD, Oct 26: Iraq says it has made progress in efforts to bring weapons held by armed factions under state control, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi setting June 30, 2027, as the deadline for completing the process.

Al-Zaidi said agreements had been reached with five armed factions to surrender their weapons, with procedures completed for three groups and work continuing with two others, according to reports published following his interview with the Iraqi News Agency.

The initiative targets weapons held outside official state institutions, including those possessed by factions with links to Iran. The government says all weapons must ultimately be under the authority of Iraqi state security forces.

“Weapons will be exclusively in the hands of the Iraqi security forces,” al-Zaidi said, reiterating his government's commitment to ending the presence of weapons outside state control.

The government had initially planned to address the issue by September 30, 2026, coinciding with the end of the US-led international coalition's military mission in Iraq. It subsequently extended the timeline to June 30, 2027, under a roadmap for implementing the disarmament process.

The withdrawal of coalition forces has been cited by Baghdad as removing a justification used by some armed factions to retain their weapons. The government has also stressed that decisions on war and peace must remain with Iraq's constitutional authorities.

However, the plan faces resistance from some powerful factions. While several groups have indicated a willingness to cooperate with the government, others have rejected the timetable or disputed that a binding agreement has been reached.

The issue remains politically sensitive because some of the factions maintain close ties with Tehran and have played a significant role in Iraq's security and political landscape.

Al-Zaidi has said Iraq will not become a party to the wider regional conflict and intends to bring all weapons under state control while maintaining relations with both the United States and Iran.

The coming months will test whether Baghdad can translate its agreements with armed factions into a comprehensive disarmament process by the June 2027 deadline.