Iraqi Faction Warns against Dismantling of the PMF

Iraq's government has declared its commitment to establishing state control over all weaponry, a move Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's administration frames as essential for national sovereignty and security. Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi emphasized that Iraq, as a sovereign nation, will not be subject to foreign or domestic dictates regarding its arms.

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Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government has set as a priority Iraq’s sovereignty and security and imposing state monopoly over arms.

The initiative specifically targets factions connected to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-affiliated entity, and other groups operating under the banner of "resistance." Deputy Commander of Joint Operations Qais al-Mohammedawi, heading the committee tasked with limiting arms possession to the state, denied claims that the efforts would extend to other groups, stating the focus is on ending the possession of weapons tied to religious or political affiliations. He also revealed that authorities have thwarted attacks against neighboring countries, asserting Iraq will not serve as a platform for aggression.

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Iraq is a sovereign nation and its higher authority is not subject to foreign and internal dictates.

However, the government's push for disarmament faces defiance from staunchly pro-Iran factions such as Kataib Hezbollah and the al-Nujaba movement. These groups argue that the efforts are aimed at dismantling the "arms of the resistance." Nazem al-Saeedi, head of al-Nujaba's executive council, warned that any disarmament discussions must be comprehensive and applied uniformly to all parties. He expressed concern that the current demands could eventually extend to the capabilities of official security and military institutions, fearing the "politicization of the PMF" and its integration into power-sharing systems, which he believes could compromise its role.

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The efforts cover factions connected to the PMF.