Esmail Qaani visits Baghdad to discuss Iraqi militia disarmament

Esmail Qaani, commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, conducted an unannounced visit to Baghdad to discuss the Iraqi government’s plan to disarm various armed factions. The Iraqi government has set a September 30 deadline to bring all weapons under state control and restrict military operations to official state institutions.

According to sources within the Coordination Framework, a leading umbrella for Shia Iraqi parties, the visit aimed to find a political compromise to avoid a direct confrontation between the government and pro-Iran militias. These groups, including Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al Nujaba, and Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada, currently oppose disarmament, arguing their presence is necessary due to perceived gaps in state defense capabilities and the continued presence of foreign forces.

While the Iraqi government seeks a monopoly on arms, Tehran has reportedly messaged through Qaani that there should be no handing over of factional weapons at this time. The situation presents a significant challenge to Iraqi sovereignty, as the militias possess substantial military resources, including missiles and drones, and their refusal to disarm could lead to internal conflict or regional instability.