As the last US troops pack up in Iraq, militias signal their weapons will stay

Two key deadlines are approaching for Iraq at the end of the month: the withdrawal of U.S. military forces and the disarmament of non-state armed groups. As U.S. troops are set to leave by September 30, the Iraqi government has set an ultimatum for militias to disarm. However, most militia groups have no intention of complying. Iranian-backed militias have frequently targeted U.S.-linked interests in Iraq and neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Iranian involvement adds complexity to the situation. U.S. officials remain concerned about the potential for continued attacks by these militias, but they decided to proceed with the withdrawal. The U.S. has withdrawn from most areas of Iraq, but maintains a presence in the Kurdish region. Once the U.S. troops leave, the focus will shift to negotiating a "normal bilateral security cooperation" agreement with the Iraqi government.

However, it remains unclear what form this agreement will take. The Iraqi government faces challenges in disarming the militias, particularly those most closely aligned with Iran. Some militias have agreed to disarm, while others have rejected the offer or set conditions that seem unlikely to be met. The government's strategy currently involves bringing these militias under the control of the Iraqi military, although this has not yet been fully achieved.