Iraq moves to put off militia disarmament until June 2027 while US moves out

Iraq Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is set to delay disarming Iran-backed militias until June 2027. This decision comes as the United States prepares to withdraw from Iraq on September 30. The Prime Minister's stance on militia disarmament is viewed as a means to restructure the US relationship with Iraq. Iraq is under pressure to cut off Iran as a result of US sanctions.

Iraqi officials have suggested a 90-day window where militias will cease their attacks before turning over their weapons. However, this timeline introduces numerous uncertainties. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with al-Zaidi to discuss the future of the US-Iraq partnership, emphasizing the importance of dismantling terrorist militias, preventing attacks from Iraqi territory, and exercising full sovereignty.

In Iraq, the army's ground forces commander, Qassim al-Mohammedi, called for the disarming of the Yazidi armed group, known as the YBS. The Yazidi group had previously agreed to disarm a week prior. Military officials have urged all non-Iraqi armed men to leave the region, emphasizing that their presence is not acceptable. The Kurdish Peshmerga force has also announced a unification this week.

Iran-backed militias have been entrenched in Iraq's security and political landscape since the 2003 US invasion. These militias operate within the state-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), while maintaining separate leadership structures and strong ties with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Major Iran-aligned groups include Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat al-Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Kataib Imam Ali, and several smaller factions.

These militias have been responsible for numerous attacks targeting US forces, the Kurdistan Region, and other countries, with an estimated 100,000 members in total. The United States has designated several of these groups as terrorist organizations.