Iraq Delays Militia Disarmament, But Doesn’t Give Up — For Now

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has reiterated his commitment to disarm Iranian-backed militias in his country, but says he needs nine more months to accomplish what may be an impossible task.

In June, the Iraqi government announced that militias must disarm by September 30 — also the departure date for the forces of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The theory was that with the departure of American troops, the Iran-backed militias — the primary targets of the disarmament campaign — would lose their justification for remaining armed. They claim to be essential protection for Iraq against occupying forces, which is how they describe the United States.

Now, Zaidi is saying the government will begin to implement a disarmament plan on September 30 and complete the process by the end of June 2027. He promised a detailed timeline to begin on that day with a 90-day ceasefire between the United States and the militias. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have repeatedly struck militia targets during the conflict with Iran in response to over 600 militia attacks between February and April. Saudi Arabia joined U.S. airstrikes on July 30 after Iraqi militia attacks resumed, including on Saudi energy infrastructure.

This delay reflects both the militia resistance and the limited government capacity to accomplish a challenging and controversial task. However, continuing forward with genuine disarmament efforts is better than giving up or declaring success in exchange for only symbolic concessions.

Iran-Backed Militias Maintain Maximalist Requirements for Disarmament

Kataib Hezbollah, the most powerful Iran-backed militia designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, demanded in August not only the withdrawal of American forces, but also the removal of American political and economic influence, the withdrawal of the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq, and the disbanding of the Kurdish Peshmerga. Other militias, such as U.S.-designated Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have echoed these demands.

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN), another Iran-backed designated terror group, argued that the militias are still necessary due to threats against Iraq and the region. So long as Washington and Tehran are at war, the militias are unlikely to grant concessions on disarmament. HHN officials have also demanded the preservation of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a security organization founded in 2014 to fight ISIS, but dominated by Iran-backed militias. The PMF have become a vehicle for Iranian influence in the country and to siphon funds from the state.

Zaidi Looks to Use PMF in Disarmament Campaign

Under the new disarmament plan, the PMF will reportedly be responsible for documenting and storing weapons from the armed factions. Zaidi also said that militia members “will join the Popular Mobilization Forces as individuals and integrate into them.” The PMF is a government institution and therefore its weapons are “state-controlled arms.” However, this is not possible, since the PMF, as noted is dominated by the same Iran-backed armed factions that Baghdad is attempting to disarm.

In parallel, Zaidi is planning to reintroduce legislation to formalize and strengthen the PMF. Similar legislation was introduced twice in 2025 under Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani but ultimately withdrawn over American and domestic objections. According to Shafaq, an Iraqi news site, some controversial provisions are being removed after Washington vetoed elements of the bill.

Washington Must Continue to Engage With Baghdad on Meaningful Disarmament

The PMF will never be a reliable disarmament partner without a near-complete overhaul, including the removal of Iranian and militia-affiliated commanders. The Trump administration should require the involvement, or at a minimum oversight, of disarmament efforts by other elements of Iraq’s security apparatus. Recent sanctions by the U.S. Treasury highlight concerns related to the PMF, including funding militias designated as terrorist groups. Treasury should consider sanctioning the financial elements of the PMF that make these payments if progress is not made on disarmament.

Furthermore, any commitment by the United States not to strike the militias should be contingent not only on their adherence to a ceasefire, but also compliance with disarmament.

Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Bridget and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD. Follow Bridget on X @BridgetKToomey. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.