Iraq's uneasy quest to disarm militias turns into public opinion battle on television and social media
The husband storms towards his wife, angry that their son Humaid, a militia fighter, refuses to hand over his weapon to the government. “He thinks life is all about war,” the man tells her. The mother responds with a question that goes to the heart of the country’s long-running debate over Iran-backed militias: “Then who will protect the country?” The dramatic scene, part of a wider media…
A heated argument between an Iraqi couple highlights the government's struggle to convince the public that disarming Iran-aligned militias is necessary. The wife questions whether the country will be protected without the militias, a sentiment that reflects the deep divisions over the issue. The Iraqi government has launched a media campaign to build public support for the disarmament deadline of September 30.
The Shiite militias, which gained legitimacy during US-led and ISIS-era interventions, now argue that the original justification for their existence has vanished. Despite some groups placing their weapons under state authority, hardline factions refuse to disarm until foreign troops leave and other conditions are met. The arrest of a PMF commander linked to the opposition faction has sparked tensions, with threats of civil war and "an eye for an eye" being shouted in the streets.
The government's counter-terrorism service has posted videos on social media, urging Iraqis to trust the state to protect them. The disarmament push relies on separating two overlapping structures: the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a legal state-salaried umbrella of armed groups, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-aligned network focused on attacking US and Israeli targets.
With the US military mission in Iraq drawing to a close and ISIS no longer a significant threat, the government is moving from political negotiations to television and social media to build public support for the disarmament process.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
