Iraq sets 2027 deadline for disarmament of armed groups

Following the conclusion of the US-led international coalition's military mission in Iraq, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidy has established a new deadline for the disarmament of armed groups. The government has set June 30, 2027, as the final date for all weapons to be handed over to the state, extending the previous target of September 2024.

Al-Zaidy stated that the process of addressing weapons outside of government control will begin in earnest on October 1. He emphasized that decisions regarding war and peace must reside exclusively with Iraq's legal state institutions and that no group should act independently outside the official structure. The Prime Minister also declared that the government will move to fully disarm non-Iraqi armed groups within the country to prevent the use of Iraqi territory or airspace for attacks on other nations.

Simultaneously, the Iraqi government is working to formalize the status of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). A new bill has been sent to Parliament to regulate the PMF's structure, employment status, and benefits, aiming to solidify its position as an integral part of the national security structure under the command of the Commander-in-Chief. While the PMF was officially part of the armed forces in 2016, legal details regarding its administrative status remained unclear.