Iraq’s Powerful Iran-Backed Militias to Surrender Arms to Authorities

In a move signaling alignment with the new Iraqi government’s efforts to control armed groups, two of Iraq’s powerful Iran-backed militias have announced plans to hand over their weapons to state authorities. This decision comes amid ongoing efforts to rein in militias operating independently, despite being nominally under state command.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the groups involved, has established a committee to manage the transition process. This committee will inventory fighters, weapons, and equipment, and coordinate with Iraq’s armed forces commander-in-chief. The decision aligns with calls from Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, which dominates the nation’s politics. The group aims to respond to these calls by consolidating its weapons under government control.

Similarly, the Imam Ali Brigades announced their intention to support efforts to build a strong and sovereign state. They emphasize the importance of maintaining weapons solely with state entities to strengthen state institutions.

Recent regional conflicts, including strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, have exposed weaknesses within Iraq’s state institutions. These events have highlighted the limited capability of Iraqi authorities to manage Iran-backed groups. Additionally, a confrontation between Washington and the militias has added to the crisis, with factions acting as proxies for Iran’s regional ambitions and escalating attacks on U.S. assets in Iraq until a ceasefire was reached in April.

In an influential shift, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced that his militia, Saraya al-Salam, would separate from his political movement and integrate into state institutions, further emphasizing the push toward consolidating armed power within state control.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has prioritized a state monopoly on arms, working under U.S. pressure to assert state authority over weapons. The Trump administration has linked defense cooperation and funding to curbing the influence of Iran-affiliated factions, which receive funding through Iraq’s state budget and have embedded themselves within the security apparatus.

Despite these efforts, several armed factions, including Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, have resisted disarmament. These groups associate the issue with Iraq’s sovereignty and the foreign troop presence. Kataib Hezbollah has expressed support for other factions surrendering weapons, yet intends to continue its activities under the guise of “resistance work.” The group proposes coordination with the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces instead of surrendering arms.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group, integrates mostly Shiite armed groups. While some maintain independent command and ties to Iran, efforts persist to bring weapons under state control.