Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zeidi has given armed factions a deadline of September 30 to lay down their arms, with two Iraqi political sources confirming Zeidi's readiness to 'confront' and 'clash' with groups refusing to comply by the set date. The move marks a potentially pivotal moment for the country's internal security dynamics.
A senior Iraqi security official told AFP on Wednesday evening that high-level communications are ongoing with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, intensifying efforts to consolidate the groups' weaponry under the Iraqi state's control.
Similarly, the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, disclosed in a televised interview that Iranian officials have expressed their willingness to 'assist' Baghdad's government in this endeavor. Barzani noted he discussed the issue of state-controlled arms with Iranian officials in Tehran, who conveyed to him, 'Tell Prime Minister Ali Zeidi that we are ready to assist in this matter.' He made these remarks to Iraq's 'Al Sharqiya News' network.
These developments occur amid growing U.S. pressures on Baghdad to regulate arms within groups allied with Iran, a commitment Zeidi made upon assuming office in mid-May, reportedly with U.S. endorsement.
Deadline: September 30
Prime Minister Zeidi's ultimatum aligns with the expiration of the U.S.-led international coalition's mission against ISIS, a presence that some factions have used as justification to retain their arsenal. However, resistance remains among some groups regarding disarmament efforts.
Iraq has historically faced challenges in balancing its relationships with both the United States and Iran, especially since the 2003 U.S. invasion that transformed it into a battleground for influence between the two powers.
Following the outbreak of the Middle Eastern conflict last February with a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, the Kurdistan region has endured over a thousand attacks. These attacks have included both Iranian strikes on Kurdish opposition in northern Iraq and attacks claimed by Iraqi armed factions against American interests.
Armed groups have additionally attempted to target scattered U.S. bases throughout Iraq, extending their hostile actions to include several neighboring countries.