Summary
Iraq has initiated a comprehensive plan to disarm Iran-backed militias operating under the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella, aiming to reassert state control over all weapons and armed actors. The plan, formalized in 2026, involves the systematic categorization and transfer of drones, light, and heavy weapons from PMF factions to designated state institutions, with oversight by a high-level committee. This process is rooted in post-ISIS legal reforms and has accelerated under mounting US financial and diplomatic pressure, including the suspension of major cash transfers and targeted sanctions. While the government has made public commitments to state monopoly on arms, implementation is incremental and explicitly tied to the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces, scheduled for September 2026. Local media and analysts describe the approach as “managed containment,” with significant resistance from hardline factions and ongoing debates over the true scope of disarmament. The outcome remains uncertain, with the next major milestone expected after the coalition withdrawal.
Detailed Report
1. Structure and Implementation of Iraq’s Disarmament Plan
Iraq’s disarmament initiative mandates the systematic transfer of all PMF-held weapons to state institutions. According to Al-Monitor, Middle East Eye, and the Iraqi News Agency, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles are to be handed over to the Iraqi Air Force, light weapons such as assault rifles and small arms are to be catalogued and stored by the Ministry of Interior, and heavy weapons—including tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery—are to be transferred to the Ministry of Defense. The process includes serial-number verification, engraving new identifiers on unmarked weapons, and entry into a centralized arms registry. Secure transport and a digital and paper audit trail are required for each weapon, with regular audits and surprise inspections mandated by the oversight committee. The government has pledged to publish quarterly progress reports, though independent verification of this commitment is limited.
2. Historical Context and Key Milestones of the Disarmament Initiative
The plan’s origins trace back to the 2014 mobilization against ISIS, when Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s fatwa led to the rapid formation of the PMF. The 2016 PMF Law granted the PMF legal status but left key issues unresolved. In 2019, Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi issued a decree for full PMF integration, but implementation was partial due to resistance from Iran-backed factions. The US-Iraq Higher Military Commission, established in January 2024, set benchmarks for security reform and coalition withdrawal. In September 2024, Iraq and the US announced a definitive timeline for the withdrawal of foreign combat forces by September 2026, with Prime Minister Sudani committing to end the presence of weapons outside state control. Legislative efforts to consolidate PMF command failed in 2025, but a new PMF Authority Law advanced in July 2025, granting the PMF greater autonomy. The plan’s operational phase began in May 2026 with the launch of the oversight committee.
3. Oversight Mechanism: Composition and Mandate of the May 2026 Committee
The oversight committee, established through executive decrees and parliamentary resolutions, is chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and includes Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi and Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri, alongside senior officials from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the National Security Advisor’s office, and the PMF Commission. Its mandate covers supervising the inventory and handover of all PMF weapons, maintaining a centralized registry, defining the legal status of armed groups post-disarmament, and managing the integration of fighters. The committee reports to the Council of Ministers and parliament and is empowered to recommend disciplinary action against non-compliant groups. Initial progress includes the transfer of some heavy weapons to Ministry of Defense depots, though hardline factions such as Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have refused to participate pending full US withdrawal.
4. Public Commitments and Positions of Key Stakeholders
Prime Minister Sudani has stated that Iraq can only disarm factions after the US withdrawal, promising a clear program to end arms outside state institutions at that point. He has emphasized that only state institutions have the authority over war and peace. US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott has called for immediate dismantling of Iran-aligned militias, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the halting of legislation related to the PMF. The US has made clear that future assistance is contingent on verifiable disarmament progress, opposing any legislation that would undermine Iraq’s security institutions or sovereignty.
5. US Congressional Legislation
The “Free Iraq from Iran Act” (H.R.2658), introduced in April 2025, requires the US to support efforts to dismantle Iran-backed militias and conditions security assistance on their irreversible dismantlement. The bill mandates the designation of the PMF and other groups as foreign terrorist organizations and imposes sanctions on individuals and entities facilitating Iranian-backed militias. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 further freezes half of the funds for the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq until credible steps are taken toward disarmament and accountability.
6. Militia Leaders’ Positions
Kataib Hezbollah, led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, has categorically rejected disarmament before the complete withdrawal of US forces, warning of “total war” if Iran or its allies are attacked. The Resistance Coordination Committee has declared any discussion of disarmament unacceptable while foreign troops remain. PMF Chairman Falih al-Fayyadh has defended the PMF’s legal status as a state institution and distinguished between official brigades and resistance factions. Asaib Ahl al-Haq’s leadership has expressed conditional support for integration but resists externally imposed timelines, while Harakat al-Nujaba maintains a hardline stance against disarmament prior to US withdrawal.
7. Local Media Perspectives on Iraq’s Incremental Approach to Disarmament
Journalist Hamid al-Maliki, writing for Baghdad Today, describes the government’s approach as “managed containment,” focusing on regulating and absorbing armed power incrementally rather than enforcing immediate disarmament. He estimates 13 to 15 million weapons are in circulation, citing Ministry of Interior figures, and warns that the handover of heavy weapons is often used as a negotiation tactic rather than a genuine disarmament effort. Local analysts and outlets such as Al Mada and Shafaq News note that many factions interpret “state monopoly on arms” as continued possession under the PMF’s legal umbrella, allowing operational autonomy while claiming compliance.
8. US Financial Pressure and Sanctions
In April 2026, the US Treasury blocked a $500 million cash shipment to Iraq, citing the need for decisive action against Iran-aligned militias. The US has also imposed targeted sanctions on Iraqi officials and militia leaders, including Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly and commanders from Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Harakat al-Nujaba. The US-Iraq Higher Military Commission oversees the transition to a bilateral security partnership and monitors disarmament progress as a condition for releasing security assistance.
Conclusion
Iraq’s plan to disarm Iran-backed militias is a phased, politically sensitive process shaped by post-ISIS legal reforms and intensified by US financial and diplomatic pressure. While the government has established mechanisms for inventory and transfer of weapons, implementation remains incremental and is explicitly tied to the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces. The strategy of “managed containment” reflects the complexity of Iraq’s security landscape, with significant resistance from hardline factions and ongoing debates over the true scope of disarmament.