A group of Iraqi armed factions operating under the banner of the 'Islamic Resistance' announced their full adherence to their military arsenal, rejecting any attempts to compromise on their weapons in the upcoming phase. This escalating stance comes at a sensitive time, as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi prepares to head to the American capital, Washington, for an official visit, during which the issue of weapon control by the state is expected to top his main agenda with the American administration.
The factions affirmed in an official statement that they are continuing to carry out their field operations, in addition to continuing intensive training programs and developing the combat capabilities of their fighters periodically. Informed sources indicated that this stance reflects a wide gap between the Iraqi government's aspirations to impose the rule of law and the factions' vision, which sees their weapons as a strategic guarantee that cannot be abandoned under any political or international pressures.
The list of forces refusing to surrender weapons includes factions with significant military and political weight, most notably Kata'ib Hezbollah and Harakat Al-Nujaba, in addition to Kata'ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Ansar Allah Al-Awfiya. These groups have an influential presence in the Iraqi security landscape, and their names have been associated with thorny regional issues and border tensions, making the process of convincing them to abandon their weapons a formidable challenge for the executive authority in Baghdad.
For its part, the Iraqi government seeks to adhere to the timeline it set for ending the missions of the international coalition forces in the country, scheduled for next September 30. The government's plan aims for this withdrawal to coincide with the completion of all legal and field procedures to restrict weapons to official military institutions only, a path that the government considers a fundamental pillar for the stability of the state and its full sovereignty.
In a related context, Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi stressed in recent statements that his government will not tolerate the presence of any armed manifestations outside the framework of law and legitimate institutions. Al-Zaidi clarified that the government program places combating corruption and building a state of institutions at the forefront of priorities, emphasizing that justice and equality cannot be achieved in the presence of armed forces parallel to the state.
On the procedural level, Iraqi authorities announced in early June the formation of a high-level committee specialized in weapon control, headed by the spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. This committee has already begun to implement its field and administrative tasks, in an attempt to translate government promises into tangible reality, despite the significant obstacles posed by the rigid positions of the armed factions.
Observers believe that Al-Zaidi's upcoming visit to Washington will be a real test of the government's ability to maneuver between international pressures demanding disarmament and the complex internal reality. While Baghdad tries to reassure the international community of its ability to maintain security, the factions continue to send messages of strength, asserting that they will not be part of any agreement that strips them of their military capabilities, which they deem necessary to confront threats.
We will not allow any weapons to remain outside the framework of the state and law, and we will continue our efforts to build a state governed by justice.
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Ahead of Al-Zaidi's Visit to Washington: Iraqi Armed Factions Cling to Their Weapons and Refuse Compromise