Iraq pursues dialogue to consolidate weapons under state control

The Iraqi government is pursuing a strategy of dialogue and political understanding to consolidate all weapons under state control. Qasim al-Araji, security advisor to the Prime Minister, clarified that September 30 is not a deadline for seizing weapons from factions, but rather the start of discussions to decouple these groups from their independent military capabilities.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi stated that political forces are in agreement on the principle of restricting weapons to the state, emphasizing that the government seeks to avoid military confrontation. Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi noted that talks are progressing with six armed factions, some of which have responded positively to government proposals.

While some groups, such as Kata'ib Hezbollah, have expressed reluctance to relinquish military capabilities, others are open to reorganizing their security relationship with the state. The government maintains a dual approach: political negotiations with factions and heightened security readiness to ensure stability during this transition.

Additionally, officials addressed the ongoing security situation regarding ISIS, noting that while the group has been defeated militarily, intelligence and military efforts continue to target remaining pockets in remote areas. Officials identified drug trafficking as a primary security threat, currently ranking higher than ISIS in terms of immediate danger.