The new Iraqi government has made the collection of all weapons by the state a primary priority to assert national sovereignty [1, 2].
This effort represents a critical attempt to reduce the power of armed non-state actors and limit Iranian influence within the country. By consolidating military authority, the state aims to eliminate the parallel power structures that have historically challenged central governance [1, 2].
Several factions have already taken steps toward this transition. The Ahl al-Haq Brigades and the Imam Ali Brigades announced steps to disengage from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) [1]. These groups said they would hand over their arms or place them under state authority [1]. Some of these initial announcements regarding the handover of weapons occurred in June 2026 [1].
However, the disarmament process faces significant internal contradictions. While some groups seek to integrate into the state, others oppose full disarmament. The Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades expressed a different strategy; they said they were ready to purchase specialized weapons from factions that decide to abandon armed activity [2].
Political figures including Ali Najdiya of the Progress Party and Mohammed Al-Hamadi are central to the discourse surrounding these security shifts [1, 2]. The government's ability to enforce these mandates depends on whether the PMF can be fully transitioned into a state-controlled entity or if fragmented militias will continue to operate independently.
The struggle for control over weaponry reflects a broader tension between those favoring a centralized state and those maintaining autonomous paramilitary networks. If the state cannot secure the weapons of the most resistant factions, the risk of internal conflict remains high, especially as some groups actively seek to acquire the arms of those who disarm [1, 2].
“The new Iraqi government has made the collection of all weapons by the state a primary priority”
The divergent responses from Iraqi militias suggest that while the government has a formal mandate for disarmament, the reality on the ground is fragmented. The willingness of some groups to sell their weapons to other militias rather than surrendering them to the state indicates a potential shift in power dynamics rather than a total disarmament. This creates a precarious security environment where state sovereignty is contested by the very forces tasked with national defense.
