Key facts
- Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, an Iran-backed Iraqi armed group, stated 10 conditions for disarmament.
- A primary condition is the complete withdrawal of US forces from Iraq by land, sea, and air.
- The group also demanded full federal control over Iraqi territory and stronger air defenses.
- The Badr Organisation warned that forced disarmament could lead to civil war.
- The Badr Organisation's conditions include US withdrawal, removal of strategic threats, and Iraqi armed forces development.
- Iran's Quds Force commander visited Baghdad to mediate a settlement on militia weapons.
- Iraqi Prime Minister Al Zaidi has warned non-disarming militias face terrorism charges.
- US officials support the disarmament and transfer of weapons to the Iraqi government.
Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, an Iran-backed Iraqi armed group, has stated it will only cooperate with efforts to bring weapons under state control if 10 conditions are met, including a complete withdrawal of US forces from Iraq by land, sea, and air. The group also called for full federal control over Iraqi territory, stronger Iraqi-operated air defenses, and the withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters and Turkish troops from northern Iraq.
The Badr Organisation, another powerful Iranian-backed militia, warned that forcibly disarming groups before the September 30 deadline could trigger civil war. This group set three conditions: full US troop withdrawal, removal of strategic threats, and development of Iraq's armed forces. The head of Badr Organisation's political office, Mohammed Naji, stated that any attempt to forcibly disarm groups would result in civil war and deepen internal divisions, suggesting Prime Minister Al Zaidi was moving too quickly under US pressure.
These statements come as the Iraqi government faces a September 30 deadline to bring all armed factions' weapons under state control. Iraqi Prime Minister Al Zaidi has vowed to disarm Iran-backed militias and warned that those refusing to disarm will face terrorism charges, while reaffirming that foreign forces will depart by October 1. The commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, Brig Gen Esmail Qaani, recently visited Baghdad to seek a settlement that would allow militias to retain weapons while avoiding government confrontation.
Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al Araji clarified that September 30 is the date for the international coalition's departure, not the deadline for handing over weapons. He also indicated that dialogues to sever ties between political parties and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) brigades were producing positive results. A US official reiterated that the US fully supports the disarmament of factions and the transfer of their weapons to the central Iraqi government. Some militias have proposed to 'freeze' their activity for two years.