Iraq has given itself until June 2027 to bring all weapons under state control. Here is what the disarmament drive is about.

After the Islamic State rose in 2014, Iraq’s government mobilised volunteer fighters into the Popular Mobilization Forces. Many of these factions are aligned with Iran. They helped defeat ISIS but kept their weapons and influence afterwards.

Baghdad’s plan was simple: once the US-led coalition left Iraq, the militias would lose their main reason for staying armed. The coalition’s mission formally ended on October 1, 2026.

The logic did not hold. By the original September 30 deadline, only two prominent factions had agreed to disarm. Powerful groups including Kataib Hezbollah refused, saying they were not bound by any government timetable.

The new plan starts with a 90-day ceasefire, then moves to weapons surrender or integration into state forces. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi framed it as a constitutional duty, saying only the state can decide war and peace.

The stakes are regional. The US and Iran are at war, and US officials say the holdout militias keep rockets, missiles and drones that can threaten American personnel across the region.