Ali al-Zaydi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, has announced that armed groups operating outside of state control must surrender their weapons to the government by June 30, 2027. He emphasized that this process began on October 1 and will proceed according to a specific timeline.
In his remarks, Mr. al-Zaydi stated that the state's monopoly on weapons is a national necessity, and Baghdad is working to integrate all armed groups into the country's official security and military institutions. This move is part of oader efforts to strengthen the central government's authority.
Under the new plan, armed groups will first enter a 90-day period of suspended attacks, after which the process of handing over their light and heavy weapons to the government will commence. This is considered a crucial step toward reducing tensions and building trust between the parties.
This development follows a previously missed deadline. The Iraqi government had initially set the end of September 2026 as the target for disarmament. However, after facing opposition from some powerful armed factions, the process was challenged, forcing the government to propose a new, more realistic timeline.
The issue of controlling weapons outside of state authority has been one of the biggest challenges for Iraqi governments since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003. The presence of numerous armed groups has continuously threatened the country's stability and security.
With the full withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, this issue has once again become a central focus. The Iraqi government is attempting to consolidate its sovereignty across the country and prevent further chaos by disarming these groups and strengthening state institutions.
Source: Zarin TV
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