Iraqi PM postpones dissolution of pro-Iranian militias to June 2027

Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq will not be disarmed by September 30 as set, and according to reports on Al-Arabiya, new understandings were reached under which the strategic weapon transfer to the government will begin in March 2027 and the process will end in June 2027.

Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, considered an 'advance outpost' of the Iranian regime from which they launch drone strikes against American targets and in some cases against Israel, will not complete weapon disarmament by September 30, the deadline set alongside the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the country. According to sources cited by Saudi Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath, new understandings were reached under which the militias will begin surrendering their strategic weapons in March 2027 and the process will end in June 2027.

Iraqi PM Ali al-Zeidi said in an interview with the New York Times that 'this is not a matter of choice, but a necessity,' and committed to consolidating the armed factions' weapons by June 2027. According to him, 'Others talked about this and then backed down. They yielded to pressures or other concerns. From my perspective, this file, alongside the corruption file, is a matter of honor.'

According to al-Zeidi, in the first phase, a 90-day period will be given in which the militias will not carry out attacks, alongside a guarantee that they will not be attacked by American forces, after which the factions will begin surrendering their weapons, with weapon disarmament supposed to be completed by June 30, 2027. According to him, the factions will join al-Hashd al-Sha'abi forces as units, and any group that operates under the names of factions after the period ends 'will be considered an outlawed group.'

According to reports, three of the major factions, 'Saraya al-Salam,' 'Asaib Ahl al-Haq,' and 'Kata'ib al-Imam Ali,' have already surrendered their weapons to the state, and consultations continue with five additional militias, including 'Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq' and 'Saraya Olyaa al-Dam.' Concurrently, the Iraqi government emphasized that September 30 is a 'fixed and final' deadline for the completion of the international coalition's military mission and the withdrawal of its forces from the country.