Pro-Iranian Iraqi Militia Sets 10 Conditions for Surrendering Weapons to State Control

The influential Iraqi militia Kataib Sayid al Shuhada, which aligns with Iran and is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has declared ten conditions for relinquishing its weaponry to Baghdad's state control. This announcement comes amid escalating tensions within Iraq and mounting pressure from Washington.

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the complete withdrawal of the American occupation from Iraq by land, sea, and air, putting an end to its presence under any pretext

Among the militia's primary demands is the "complete withdrawal of the American occupation from Iraq by land, sea, and air," alongside a cessation of U.S. presence under any pretext. Furthermore, they insist on preventing the use of Iraqi airspace as a launchpad for attacks on any nation, particularly neighboring countries, a clear reference to Iran. The militia also called for the expulsion of Iranian opposition groups from their bases in northern Iraq and stipulated that the Iraqi army, not Kurdish forces, should control the border with Iran.

Additional conditions include freeing Iraq's financial, economic, and political decision-making from American hegemony. The group also demands the withdrawal of Turkish forces and members of the dissolved Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Finally, Kataib Sayid al Shuhada seeks guarantees for the rights of fighters within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of Iraqi armed factions, predominantly pro-Iranian Shiite groups.

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preventing the use of Iraqi airspace as a launchpad for attacking any other country, especially neighboring countries

The PMF is integrated into Iraq's security forces, though some components maintain autonomy over their weaponry. Kataib Sayid al Shuhada is recognized as one of the more potent factions, possessing advanced armaments, including drones and projectiles, and is part of Iran's 'Axis of Resistance.' These militias have been implicated in numerous attacks since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict in late February, targeting Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and U.S. interests.

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expelling Iranian opposition groups from their strongholds in northern Iraq

The militia's stringent conditions present a significant obstacle to Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi's objective of establishing a state monopoly on arms. While some PMF groups have voiced support for Al Zaidi's initiatives, more powerful formations like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al Nujaba have rejected them. Consequently, the Iraqi government, which had initially set September 30 as a deadline for disarming all militias, revised its stance last week, declaring that date will serve as the "starting point" for the process toward state control of weapons.

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guaranteeing the rights of the fighters of the Popular Mobilization Forces