Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has extended the deadline for disarming armed groups operating outside state control to June 30, 2027. The original deadline was September 30.

Zaidi said October 1 marked a “historic day” for Iraq, as the US-led coalition’s mission against the Islamic State formally ended. He called the “complete and definitive withdrawal” of foreign forces a great national achievement.

The new roadmap begins with a 90-day ceasefire. Armed groups would halt attacks in exchange for assurances that US forces would not target them. The groups would then gradually surrender weapons or be brought under state control.

Only two prominent factions had agreed to disarm by the original deadline, according to a US government report. The main holdouts include Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada.

Kataib Hezbollah’s leader said his group was not bound by any government timetable and demanded fresh negotiations. US officials say the holdouts retain rockets, missiles, drones and, in some cases, air defence systems.

Zaidi also pledged to disarm all non-Iraqi armed groups on Iraqi soil. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said a draft plan with specific timelines would be presented in the coming days.