Iran-aligned Iraq militia warns government of 'internal strife' if forcibly disarmed
A powerful Iranian-backed militia on Friday warned Iraq's government that using force to disarm armed groups before a September 30 deadline could result in internal conflict and set three conditions, including the withdrawal of US forces. The head of Badr Organisation's political office, Mohammed Naji, said any attempt to forcibly disarm armed groups would result in civil war and deepen internal…
A prominent Iranian-backed militia in Iraq issued a stern warning on Friday, forewarning the government that forcibly disarming armed groups by a September 30 deadline could ignite internal strife and exacerbate divisions among the country's sectarian factions. The head of the Badr Organisation's political office, Mohammed Naji, stated that any attempt to forcibly disarm armed groups would lead to civil war and further polarize Iraq's sectarian groups.
He criticized Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi for being pressured by the United States and moving too swiftly, alleging that such a move would be a grave overstep. Naji emphasized that such a development would benefit only the United States, Israel, and those who seek to harm Iraq. He outlined three conditions for restricting weapons to state authority: the complete withdrawal of US forces, the removal of strategic threats facing Iraq, and the full development of the Iraqi armed forces, particularly air defenses.
This warning comes weeks after Iran's elite Quds Force commander, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, visited Baghdad, where he reportedly sought a settlement to maintain weapons while preventing confrontation between the government and armed factions. The Badr Organisation, one of Iran's oldest and most influential proxy groups in Iraq, is a Shiite political party and paramilitary force active since the early 1980s.
Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi has pledged to disarm Iran-backed militias since taking office in May, requesting the parliament's Defence and Security Committee to draft a bill placed all weapons under state control. He has also threatened those who refuse to disarm with charges under counter-terrorism law. The September 30 deadline coincides with the anticipated departure of US troops from their last base in Iraq's Kurdistan Region.
Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi has reiterated that US-led coalition military presence and the withdrawal of foreign forces will be completed by September 30, emphasizing that weapons should remain exclusively under state control.
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