Iraqi armed groups reconsider disarmament deal amid US tensions

The pro-Iranian Asaib Ahl al-Haq group and several other Iraqi armed factions are reconsidering their decision to surrender their weapons to the state, Al-Akhbar reports.

The shift follows plans by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi that the factions view as serving US interests. Citing a source within the Coordination Framework, the Lebanese outlet said groups that had previously agreed to disarm now intend to withdraw from the initial terms of their commitment.

The issue was discussed during a series of meetings between Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and leaders of Iraqi political factions and Shiite political groups. The meetings were held with the knowledge of al-Zaidi, according to the report.

Earlier, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, led by Secretary-General Qais al-Khazali, announced that it would sever ties with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and hand its weapons over to the Iraqi state. The group became the second major paramilitary faction in Iraq, after Saraya al-Salam, to publicly announce plans to transfer its weapons to state institutions.

The reported reversal comes amid broader efforts to bring Iraq’s armed factions under greater state control and consolidate the government’s authority over weapons.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq is a pro-Iranian military-political organization in Iraq. The group has long been associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and Hezbollah, which have been reported to provide support and training to its fighters.

By Vafa Guliyeva