Iraq in Crisis as Shia Militia Reject Disarmament Deadline

Baghdad – Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani warned on Tuesday that Iraq faces a mounting security crisis as several powerful Shia paramilitary groups have refused to meet a government‑mandated deadline of September 30 to surrender their weapons. The deadline, part of a broader reform package aimed at consolidating state control over armed forces, was announced in July after months of negotiations with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and their political affiliates. The prime minister’s office said the refusal undermines efforts to complete the disarmament process, which was pledged in the 2022 security accord and is viewed as essential for stabilising the country ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.

The militias, which include factions such as Kata’ib Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al‑Haq, argue that they remain necessary to counter residual ISIS threats and to protect Shia communities, while also citing their political representation in parliament. Baghdad has threatened legal action and, if needed, the use of force to enforce the deadline, a stance echoed by U.S. officials who have urged compliance, whereas Iran has called for a political solution that respects the groups’ role in national security. The impasse highlights the delicate balance Iraq must strike between integrating armed groups into the state apparatus and maintaining the authority of civilian institutions, a challenge that could shape the nation’s stability and governance in the months ahead.