Iraq at a crossroads over militias, as senior commander is killed in car bombing - analysis

Iraq stands at a significant crossroads, grappling with the challenge of reining in powerful Iranian-backed militias or allowing them to continue weakening the nation. This internal struggle for control is a recurring theme in the country's complex history.

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The Secretary-General of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, Qais al-Khazali, stated on Wednesday that resistance is no longer limited to military action alone, but extends to building a strong state capable of making its sovereign decisions.

The issue is particularly acute for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who must navigate how to assert state authority over numerous armed groups. The situation was underscored by the recent killing of a senior commander from the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, Qais al-Khazali, in a car bombing on May 27. Khazali, designated a terrorist by the US, had previously advocated for resistance extending beyond military action to state-building.

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Al-Khazali said in his Eid al-Adha prayer sermon in Baghdad that the military action of the resistance was a top priority when the Iraqi state was threatened. He explained that the correct idea of resistance is embodied in building a strong state that has its own decision, sovereignty, and institutions, stressing that ‘any resistance that does not have an integrated building project will turn into a burden on society over time.’

In a move aimed at bolstering state institutions, influential Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr announced that his Patriotic Shiite Movement's armed group, Saraya Al-Salam, would place its weapons under state authority. Al-Sadr described this as a step taken "in the national interest" to address the risks facing Iraq, implicitly urging other militias to follow suit.

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in the national interest

Following Al-Sadr's decision, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, an Iran-backed faction, voiced support for restricting weapons to state control. A member of the group's political bureau stated, "There should be no uncontrolled weapons outside state institutions." This development suggests a potential shift in dynamics, though the ultimate outcome of the prime minister's efforts to consolidate state power remains uncertain.

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There should be no uncontrolled weapons outside state institutions.